Dear William

I am writing you this letter so that I might finally express my thought and feelings on what has transpired in our lives. For years, I have sat in silence as you traveled the world telling our story as a means to show the cruelties of the unjust institution of slavery. However, I now feel like it is time for me to step from the shadows and to share my experiences. Do not think that I am doing this to insult you or to negate everything you have done, but no one (not even you, dear husband) understands what it was like for me to transform into a white man.

I appreciate all that you have done, and there is no way that I would ever had the courage or the fortitude to make our grand escape if you had not been by my side. Yet, in your speeches and even in your written depiction of our flight, my role seems to be understated. As a woman and a slave, I have spent my entire life in the service of everyone but myself. Now that I am free woman, safe from harm here in wonderful England, I feel safe enough to say that our days in transition from Georgia to Philadelphia were the scariest days of my life. I spent many a sleepless night worrying that I might be discovered for who I really was. Although we were both in danger of returned to the damnable south, you can not even begin to imagine the pains that would have been inflicted on me. Not only would I lose all respectability among our people for my portrayal as a man, but our master (if he did not sell me another cruel slave owner) would feel even more inclined to do whatever he wanted with me for our sacred marriage vows mean nothing to him.

William, please look upon this letter in the same manner that I intended for you to get in it; in love, honor and respect. I just wanted you and everyone else to know my side of our miraculous story. Thank you for everything you have done and now I feel like a burden has been lifted off my frail shoulders.

Love,

Ellen