I’ve Loved Before

Look, I’ll be over there sitting under the tree. When you’re done, you can bring it back. I have another one over there with the rest of my things. If you want, you can come rest awhile in the shade and get back to your work after you’ve had a little break from the sun.”

“Oh no. I’ll be fine here, Miss Julia. Thank you for the water.” Bertha awkwardly thanked her and was still obviously exhausted.

Julia was happy that Bertha accepted the water and decided to return to the shade. As she walked about a dozen steps back in the direction of the shade tree, she heard the clank of something metal hitting the ground. It was Bertha tossing down the hooked blade, relieving herself of its weight, and she was heading in the same direction as Julia walked. Bertha caught up to Julia with a jog, and the two of them walked silently over to the tree and sat in the shade. At that moment, the wind picked up and the weather became slightly cooler. Bertha sat next to Julia in silence as Julia opened up the book again and read, pretending to forget that Bertha was sitting next to her. As she read, Bertha drank more water, and the wind picked up again, giving them both a refreshing breeze. Julia turned to look at Bertha and broke the silence of the moment.

“Would you mind scooting over a bit?” Julia looked as if something was bothering her.

“No, Miss Julia. But why?” Bertha was confused because she thought that there was more than enough space between the two of them.

“Because you stink,” Julia told her without hesitating.

Bertha, not taking offense, giggled a bit and scooted over, happy to be out of the scorching heat. They sat there on the soft blanket under the shade of the tree until the sun began to set on the day. They said next to nothing in comfortable silence as the warm wind breezed gently across their faces. Bertha stared straight ahead in contemplation, reflecting on her terrible day and occasionally turning her head away from Julia to create more perceived distance. Julia sat by her side as her golden locks blew softly in the wind. Every now and then Julia would glance up from the book, and out of the corner of her eye, she would quickly and very discretely look at Bertha, who was lost in her thoughts. Bertha would not even notice the occasional glance from Julia.

That day as they sat under the shade tree, the wind continued to blow softly and the sun came down and rested in the horizon. Once, Bertha looked over at Julia reading and saw that she was nearing the end of the book. Then Bertha looked away before Julia noticed that she had taken an interest in her reading. The silence continued, and after a while, Julia suddenly shut her book and got up off of the blanket before the evening could grow older. She knew that the quiet time in the shadow of the shade tree with Bertha had to end at that moment. She knew that they both had to get back to their normal daily roles with Bertha as a piece of property and her as a young, privileged, and ambitious woman trying to find her way in a world that limited her success.