Chapter 10 - The Choice Ahead
Mrs. Rose stood up straight, wiping her cheeks with the back of her wet sleeve. She carefully placed the stack of currency back inside the white envelope, folding the top flap down, and tucked it into the inner pocket of her coat, close to her heart. She smoothed out the small note—I'm sorry mom, you de no harm!—and placed it alongside the money.
She looked around the cold, dark room of the cabin. It was no longer a place of exile; it was a sanctuary where the truth had been revealed.
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The rain outside had stopped completely, leaving only the sound of water dripping from the wooden eaves onto the soft earth below. A thin ray of pale afternoon light broke through the grey sky, illuminating the wet table and the empty burlap sack.
Mrs. Rose turned toward the door. Her son had given her the means to run away and live in peace, but as she looked down at the mud-stained hem of her coat, she knew that no mother could enjoy a freedom bought with her child's captivity. She took a deep, steadying breath, placed her hand on the cold brass door handle, and prepared to face the road once more.
