The bread in my mouth is a happy contrast to the taste of brine and blood from today. Mama said I should come and eat inside the house so as master don't see me eating and accuse me of stealing from his house. He's so on edge today, he'd pick a termite out of an anthill if it suited him best. Especially after today.

It's my 22nd on Tuesday. Two days and I'm free. Thank the Lord.

Today I was made to whip Salazar. When they were all making their way up town, he picked up a coin in the street next to master's carriage. Master saw him with the extra money in hand, figured he'd pickpocketed a passerby. 'Course master couldn't prove it was pickpocketed or that Salazar even stole it, but that's never stopped Master from drawing a conclusion when he wants one.

Salazar would never done anything of the sort, of course. He'd never hurt a fly. Least of all me, his kin. But master put the whip in my hand.

100 lashes. I closed my eyes every other one. But I heard them all. Just as I heard him.

They keep talking in church about how doing for a master will give us a forever life, one where we never die. I'd rather do for myself and die tomorrow than spend forever doing for a master who won't do for me.

Two days.