I feel stripped. I feel cold. Is this my punishment for letting my voice be heard by men? Oh, I need to open my eyes first.
Lottie opens her eyes to a world full of color. "SHE'S AWAKE!" someone yells.
A hand brushes against her own, soothing the pain shooting up her spine.
"Darling, we found you unconscious under that old bridge. Are you feeling alright now?
" an old, warm-looking woman asks with concern.
Lottie can't answer. All she wants is to get out and move her body, lest her father beat her for staying out too long.
She looks around to make sense of her situation. "Wait. Why is there a typewriter-looking thing that's not a typewriter? And what's with the nurse's uniform?
" Lottie panics.
"She looks like she can't breathe," someone comments.
"Discharge her so she can go home and rest," the old woman says, removing her warm hand, which was providing this restless soul with a sense of familiarity.
Charlotte. Lottie, as she is called by many. This woman runs outside in confusion, wondering where the heck her family is.
Wait, what? There's a yellow-looking car driven by… a woman?
She almost loses consciousness again.
Where am I? What is this place? Is that a girl studying inside a restaurant-looking place? Why is a lady walking outside without her husband?
No. The world looks changed. There's something unfamiliar. No. EVERYTHING'S unfamiliar. The horse carriages around the street are gone. There is no street. It's all cement and road.
Lottie starts hyperventilating. She grabs a police officer's hand and pulls.
Looking annoyed, the officer asks, "May I help you?
"
Breathing out of relief, she replies, "Could you please contact Mr. Bannerman in North Tarrytown?
"
The officer looks like he's being pranked. "Do you mean Sleepy Hollow? That name changed about 19 years ago.
"
Lottie is more confused than ever. She vaguely remembers going there just three months after her marriage. Clearly, the person is mistaken.
Before she can ask again, the officer leaves.
What is going on? Why are there so many cars outside? What's with the language? And WHAT IN THE BOONDOGGLE IS THAT GIRL WEARING?
No time for thoughts as her stomach growls. A lady must not let others hear sounds of embarrassment. This has Lottie running to a building that seems to have a photo of fried fish outside.
Oh my! Why is there so much light and so many things?
"Could I have some bread with fish stew, please?
" she asks politely as she takes in the atmosphere.
The person in front looks at her strangely but doesn't say anything.
"Of course, ma'am," he finally replies. "Cash or credit?
"
Realization hits her. She doesn't have any money! I don't wanna suffer from hunger like before.
But wait. What was that C word? Red… credit? None of this made any sense to this lost woman
The man says with a look of annoyance, "If you wanna pay through cash, please give me your ID."
Lottie looks surprised, hearing such an unfamiliar word. "What's that?
"
The man looks mad now. "You know, that rectangle-shaped card with your photo and your birthdate, or do I have to teach you how to read?
"
My birthdate? The July of 1930, when my older brother died right after I was born?
The date. Yes, that's what she needs right now. "What's the date?
" she asks while contemplating whether to run or not.
"Look, ma'am, I don't have time for this. There's a calendar behind you. Take a look at the menu and decide how you are going to pay, or I'm gonna have to call security.
"
Lottie looks back. The calendar says 2015 in bold.
WHAT? Where am I?
She touches the piece of paper on the wall with shaking hands. Her knees are trembling . And it all finally comes back to her.
---
Fall of 1850
A younger version of the same woman looks so happy. Getting married in a respectable family is the best thing that could happen to a girl. Richard Bannerman was a wealthy, well-known and well spoken merchant.
One probably wishes his hands were gentle as such.
“Why would you interrupt me with your useless facts? You wish to embarrass me?”
Richard snarls.
Lottie takes a few steps back until her back hits the hard wall. “I only wanted to improvise your speech” . “That is not a good wife's job”.
Well she stops counting after the third kick and the fourth punch.
A woman was buried two days after. She often wandered around at night. Crazy they say. It's not like anybody’s gonna question a man regarding his wife's death.
Present
Lottie reels.
What was that? My husband? Oh he pushed me down the stairs once. The women here probably don't get beaten like before.
Alas! Only if she knew.
Is this God’s way of repaying me? I tried my best to be good. Everyday. Mama said that's what a good girl does. But I don't have to listen to mama anymore.
Well it's not like it matters anyway. Lottie is happy. Lottie is free. Lottie helps others. Lottie is nice. SHE IS FREE.
