Life

by Alma Hernandez

“Darlin’ do you remember what day is it today?” I said cheerfully hoping that maybe today will be the first time Tom remembers our anniversary after five years of marriage. Five long grateful years of marriage and I never quite understood how I fell for him and his awful bad jokes. Ever since the day we meet he was perfect. The most handsome young man in town that has captured my heart. I new he was the one although momma never believed he was meant for me, she always thought he had something hidden within him, but momma lied he’s perfect and treats me like a queen.

“I need to show you something Eve come to the kitchen”

I walked down the stairs to the kitchen and there they were. “Ford’s Theater ….Friday Evening April 14 1864….Last night of Laura Keene entitled Our American Cousin”

“Happy Anniversary dear” he said as he handed me the tickets

“Why darling! Thank you so much”, I exclaimed jumping into Toms arms.

“Mary! C’mon down here to the kitchen, I need to look fabulous to go see the

show”

“Yes mam, right away mam’” whispered Mary while going up the stairs into the room and preparing everything for her mistress to get ready.

Walking up the stairs thru the long floral wallpaper down to the left hand side was Eve’s room ready for her to get ready. A room full of light coming through her sheer curtains reflecting onto her wide mirror.

“Mary get me my finest clothes and jewelry I need to look fabulous for Tom tonight. He went the extra mile today by buying us them upper box tickets, only the best of the best get to sit up there, Mary”

“Why Mr. Tom loves you mighty fine hell be willing to do anything for you madam” said Mary.

After so many years of struggle between Tom and me, all our arguments and disputes were still able to be together without killing each other. With his big indulgent eyes and thick tender lips and after five years we’ve done fine. We mighty fine.

“Yea Mary, he’s quite a charmer…….now tighten my corset I want my waist to be tight and tiny, the tinier the better” I told Mary “I said TIGHT!”

“My oh my the skies up above brought a real angel down to me tonight” said Tom while taking his hat off and staring in awe.

Walking down the long step in her crème beaded lace trim ball gown dress overflowing down the steps with her see through pink gloves and large diamond encrusted necklace adding that extra umph into her expensive rich ball gown.

“Why Tom watchu trynna say? That I never look this good for you” I said laughing. I always look this good, what is he talking about.

“Well let’s get going I don’t want to be late and miss the best show in town. Mary well be coming back later so don’t wait up”

“Yes mam.”

We soon arrived to Ford Theater and many people were beginning to arrive. Passing the numerous amount of small rows, up the tacky carpeted stairs with yellow diamond design, arriving to our ‘own private upper box’. Considering the size of the theater the box was big enough to fit 4 people. With its matching over obsessive carpet and walls it kept fine warmth within the box. The best seat available to watch the play. Only the most exclusive. I began to look below to see if friends were at the same play as us. My heart began to pound as I looked over and saw President Abraham Lincoln. With his tall stature and long bear I was enthusiastic to go and meet him. It was true about what they said when he was tall, a TALL stature.

“Darlin, look! Its President Lincoln” I exclaimed to Tom. “Lets go say hi this a once in a lifetime opportunity” The whole theater began to whisper as they acknowledged the presence of the President and his wife, the two most important people came here tonight, to Ford Theater, and it just so happens I’m here too, this is just my luck Eve meeting the president.

“No stay here, you’re going to bother the President with your annoyance” Tom said as he tugged on my elbow forcing me to sit back down.

The lights began to fade as the curtain opened and silence fell through the whole theater in a second. My eyes were left remained on the stage…and the President who I can perhaps meet and boast to our rich friends.

Lord Dundreary, a young man with a huge grey bushy mustache and long overflowing poofed sideburns passing his neckline covering all his ears had the whole theater laughing with his dimwitted nonsense. His appearance was a fantastic addition on to the play and all one could do was laugh. He immediately fell and hit the ground face up. Left all alone to the rumbling laughter’s of the crowd. The play had just begun and already the whole crowd was laughing in tears. Asa Trenchard, the lead character in the play came out and punched Lord Dreadreary into the table causing a large ruckus to shake the whole floor.

BANG

Out came a man stumbling onto the stage running past the actor and into the back stage.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!” sobbed a lady from the theater

Everybody rushed out the theater scared and confused trying to figure out what has just happened this minute. Was it part of the play?

“Honey, we must leave hurry,” said Tom nervously.

I looked across our box and realized what had happen the President was no longer in his seat. He was on the floor and had been shot. In less than a second the tall prestigious man was shot and left to fight for his own fate.

“Eve come back here!” yelled Tom as I rapidly shoved him out the way running dragging ma dress forcing it to follow me.

I ran out the box across the hall and there he was. His long lifeless body lying in his own blood, eyes rolled across his head, his head blown away by one shot. I no longer considered being in the box an enjoyment of high class, but a mere seclusion to ones death.

“Eve get over here!” commanded Tom, “We need to go!” as he grabbed ma arm with full force dragging me out the box down the stairs following his command.

“Let go Tom! You hurtin’ me …we need to help him Tom we need to” I pleaded to him hoping that perhaps he will change his mind and help Mr. Lincoln.

“Cut that shiet out! You comin’ with me whether your ass like it or not you goin to listen to me, am tired of your shiet and now you goin listen to the real man in here!” he said as I felt his large brutal hands across ma face and drop me to the shiny wooden floors.

I ran dragging ma bloody dress down the corridor and into the ladies room. And that’s were I saw, the drops of blood across the floor. I sobbed crying down into the floor thinking it was mine and there he was. Standing tall, his bloody knife clenched in his hand. Staring me down, with his possessive giant eyes. The man who killed President Lincoln.

“Why looky here” he said “What a mighty fine young lady” as he circled around me staring me inch for inch. “Am John Wilkes Booth , now who might you be?”

I was frozen, not sure what to do everybody had left and there was no one in the bathroom besides me. I couldn’t yell to Tom, what if John stabs me while I attempted to scream, ma attempt would’ve been worthless. What do I do?

“You have something I think I would like pretty miss.”

“Don’t you dare… I know who you are and I now what you’ve done”

“Oh yeaah…. Well I can really show you what I do” he whispered into my ear as he immediately grabbed me from ma waist with his knife by ma neck. “When I want something I can get it if I put ma mind to it and I think I want you right now!”

I struggled the best I could to keep him away, away from my own body away from myself. His overpowering body pressing onto mines with such force I had no choice but to submit into his wishes. His disgusting lips touching ma mouth and his hands caressing ma body. I cried longing for Tom to come get me and save me from any further body contact. I longed for this nightmare to be over.

“You tell anybody about this and you’ll soon enough regret it” John said while zipping his pants up “Am sure you don’t want nothing to happen to that gorgeous face of yours now do you darling?”

I cried and cried wishing to forget the memory he has left within me

“Tom!!!!!”……. “Tom! Please help me” I yelled

The door slammed open and finally Tom came to my rescue. He heard my pleads and came to my rescue, he’s here for me

“What happened? Why is your dress torn?!!” he yelled demandingly

“John” I said sobbing “He was here Tom. He was here and he told me if I tell anybody he’s goin’ to kill me Tom, hell come back and get me Tom …you need to help me”

Tom lit his cigar and looked at me. He looked at me if I was a stranger to him, a nobody.

“So you trynna say he came here and was with you”

“Yes Tom yes, you need to help me I’m scared”

“Now why would I help you? You a nobody now, you’re a whore and don’t ever come looking for me because I don’t know you”

“Tom how could you say that, I’m your wife Tom” I said as he began to walk away “No! Tom come back you need to help me please am beggin’ you help me, help me be safe” I said as I grab his legg and pleaded for him.

“I don’t take a second hand plate from nobody”, he said as he pushed me from his leg dropping his cigar by my dress “Goodbye Eve.”

“TOM! Come back I need your help you can’t do this you can’t” I said cryin hoping he’ll turn around and come back through the door hoping maybe he’ll come back and remember what we had. Those five years of marriage, were gone just as our president was. But I sat there waiting for him to return .