A New Life
Red rock territory up ahead
Cheerful engineer
Train’s brakes made horrible sounds
We began slowing down
Oohs and ahhs
I looked out the window
The Dakotas were like nothing I had ever seen
I never dreamed of red hills like this
Are we there? I asked the man sitting across from me.
No, but we are closer, he told me.
He was coming out for gold.
California was our destination.
I was coming out to seek a new life for myself.
To escape an abusive husband.
I had fabricated my story to him.
Pretended to be widowed.
Now to figure out a new name.
One I would answer to.
The red mountain gave me hope.
Fresh start. Fresh air. A new day.
A new everything.
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