2024-07-27 “A Little Alone” by Emma

By 19, back in1880—a dirt poor sharecropper girl—it woulda been regular for me to have my own place. ‘Cept I’d prolly been married off. So, in part, having this apartment for my own seems regular.

Merritt’s been saying what happened the last two days, so I guess you know about Jenn taking a trip. An’ about my having a bank with money in it enough to pay my rent more ‘an a year, by a month. 

I got real upset about all this for a lot o’ reasons.

When I found out I had so much money, I thought I ought to give it to my 2024 daddy. But what made me sad was I didn’t want to.

My 1880 daddy was, I guess, a good man. I think he did the best he could, an’ I’d hear him tell momma how sorry he was he couldn’t do better. But he was always sad and angry, and after I turned a woman, all he ever thought about was getting me married off. A while back I said Jenn and Merritt were the first people I felt connected to, ever, ‘cept my momma. That goes for my 1880 daddy, too. 

I talked to me 2024 daddy, and it seemed like he was happy enough I ran off. 

So, one thing that made me sad was that I don’t feel connected to him. Not ‘nough to give him the money the time-shift gave me. 

Guess it goes without saying I’m sad ‘cause Jenn left.

So, now it’s just me and Merritt tryin’ to figure out things. 

I ain’t got no… don’t have any furniture yet. Merritt and me found a bed and mattress on Amazon that comes in boxes, an’ they get here tomorrow, but I slept in the bed in the other apartment last night ‘cause Merritt said to. I been over here this morning sitting in the floor and hanging up my clothes in—in my closet.

I’m fixin’ to warsh up and get dressed. I tol’ Merritt I’d like to be with him much as he can stand it an’ make meals for us. He said he’d like that, but we’re gonna go to a restaurant an’ eat for dinner tonight ‘cause he just finished his first week at work and wants to celebrate.

I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the weeks to come, but I gotta get work to pay for my ‘partment. 

Thanks for reading my story. I really appreciate it.