The Diary of Hester Prynne
Word Count: 650
The day is September 18, 1644. I'm getting ready to go to sleep and I've just tucked Pearl into bed and kissed her good night. We said our prayers together just after reading from the book of Psalms. Today was one of the more typical dreary days.
I woke up early this morning and put the wash out. My Pearl tried to help, but she ended up making the chore take all morning. I didn't mind though because she keeps me happy by providing laughter and a cheeriness that could outshine the sun.
The joy soon faded as fast as it had come. We went to town to purchase more thread for my sewing. I hate listening to the "ladies" of the town talking behind me as I pass. They think they could never fall into a trap such as I had. One day maybe I'll start praying for their lost souls. I think that they could find better things to do with their time that would be a lot more productive than to stand on the street and snarl their ugly glares at me.
I feel that I'm closer to God now. I've studied His word for some time now and I believe that I have taught Pearl very well about the Bible. She obviously didn't show it at the Governor's Mansion though. I thought I was going to lose her forever. I probably would have sold my soul to the devil that night. I thank God every night in my prayers that He let me keep Pearl here with me. Maybe one day her father will join us and we can become a respectable family. Maybe.
Tommorrow I plan to start on a new dress for Pearl. She is growing so fast. It seems as though as soon as I finish one I have to begin on a new one. I only get to work on hers after I get ample time to embroider my others that provide our income. I feel that I can't make bold dresses like the ones I used to wear because that was the old Hester. I haven't really changed, I've just grown away from them. I make bold ones for Pearl though.
I did get to do some gardening today. I love it so much and so does Pearl. I love feeling the cool earth between my toes and fingers. I think we like it because it gets us away from the reality that we see every day on my bosom. It is probably more of an escape for me than for her.
I have been thinking about the up and coming winter. It will be here before I know. I will need to start chopping extra wood for a good stock pile. We'll need a lot more than we are currently using now.
Some days I wish that Roger and I had never come to the colonies. We could have made a good life over there. My thoughts always end with the reality that in that scenario I would have never had my Pearl. Other times I wish that Rev. Dimmesdale and I had fallen in love, so that the pain I live with everyday, will go away. I would trade my left arm to rid myself of the pain that this scarlet letter haunts me with.
I'm getting tired now and need to say my final prayers. I always look for tomorrow to be a better day, but I know in my heart that my sin will not let that happen. Some nights I have to force myself to write, and other nights I write my heart out because it releases all of my frustrations. I also write because I want Pearl to know what I thought about, as a mother, going through all of the pain of the scarlet letter and to show her that she should be a better person.