The night sky start to gain more light so I turn to go, but before I can leave the young woman come up to thank me for saving her life. I look into her eyes, see how they looking straight at me. It stir something deep inside. Is a simple look, but it make me heart flutter, beat a little faster. And I decide no matter what, I must meet that young woman again.

Seem like for once fate come down on me side because I get me wish sooner than I expect. A few weeks later, Busha Annand job me out to a Mister Braithwaite, him grow and sell pimento, getting old, plan to soon return to the Mother Country. The slaves him don’t sell off, he keep busy with the pimento crop, ask for me special to fix up whatever little thing need doing round the place.

One morning, me digging in the vegetable garden, the morning turn hot, so I take off me shirt, feel the sweat build up on me skin. I am almost done when I feel eyes pon me. Hiding behind the mesh of the kitchen door is the shining face I saw that night under the moon by the river. When she discover I see her, she don’t turn away, act all shy, she just keep looking. Not the way Mistress Josephine used to look, like she going devour me, but like the way Sam Sharpe looked at me, like she seeing the insides of me. And I can tell she like what she see.

I smile. She smile. Until we come to be like two smiling fools. Then she disappear. I think she gone back to her work, but she come out bringing a calabash of water. I tell you straight, is the best water I ever taste. Cool, fresh, sweet, just like her.

I want to ask her name, but before I can, she use her apron to wipe the sweat from me face.

‘They call me Aurelia,’ and her voice is soft, low.

‘They call me William,’ and I lean on the handle of the hoe, flexing me muscles a little bit.

‘I know. I ask round. After I see you in the woods, hiding like a little boy, then turn saviour, pull me out the river,’ her laughter lighting up her dark, sunlit face. If I thought me heart fluttering before, it start to thump so loud, me surprised she don’t hear it.