“You must make a choice Natasha.” She could hear the voice of her father echoing in her head as she sat on the dock. Natasha had made her choice but did not know how to tell her father. Natasha is the only daughter of the Tsar and is expected to marry one of the men that her father has chosen for her, but we are getting ahead of ourselves. First let me tell you about Natasha.

Natasha is the only daughter but she has younger brothers who are in line for the throne once their father is gone. This is something that Natasha did not want to think about and therefore choice to not think about it. Her father was an older man, he may have been young once but Natasha saw her father as what he wanted everyone to see. Her father was a hero, at least in his own mind.

Natasha’s mother, on the other hand, was a quiet woman who tried to do what was right for the children. She would tell the boys stories of how they will be king of this large span of land one day. She told Natasha stories about how a princess should act and wear and present themselves. Natasha never liked these stories. She wanted something greater for herself. She felt that there was something better for herself out in this great big world of ours.

Her mother would not hear of this. Natasha’s mother had been breed to be a queen. She went through all the required training to one day marry a prince. Her mother was a princess but, much like Natasha, had brothers that would not allow her to become queen of the kingdom she had grown to love. Natasha’s mother then decided she must, above all else, win the heart of a future king. She did when she meet Anton and they married almost immediately. Love at first sight is what they had called it.

Natasha knew that there were suitors coming to the kingdom every day asking for her hand, but she was not ready to give it. Anton came to her everyday with a list of names longer than the Volga River. Natasha never looked at the list. She tried to explain to her father that she did not want to marry any of those men. She felt that there was a bigger purpose for her life. Anton left as soon as she started talking.

Anton eventually gave up giving the lists to Natasha and decided he would bring her three suitors. He believed that his daughter was just overwhelmed by the amount of names given to her each day and did not want to disappointment her father. Now King Anton is a smart man and he graduated at the top of his class from university but he has issues understanding his daughter. Her mother never went in to speak to her because it is the custom to have the king tell the princess the names and who she should marry. Besides Anfisa believed in the system that was in place.

Anton eventually got the three suitors he believed would be the most acceptable to his daughter. He brought all of them in and called his daughter down. Upon going down the stairs, Natasha saw the three men and froze. She did not know what to do. Anton smiled and stated what each man had to offer his princess. They were all princes and had lands of their own. Natasha knew she should be happy and willing to marry any of these men, but she was not.

“You must choose, Tati.” Her father said this in the same sweet way he always talked to his daughter. Natasha did not know what to say or who to choose. “Give me three day father. I will have an answer for you then.” Anton smiled, knowing that his daughter always kept her promises and this sounded like a promise. Anfisa also smiled, thinking to herself that her daughter finally accepted the ways.

Natasha went to her room and did not know what to do. She knew she had three days to decide, but she did not like any of the men or the idea of getting married. She had heard that there were boats. Boats that would take you anywhere you wanted to go. Natasha went to her cupboard and saw her scrapbook. The one thing no one had ever seen before. It was a book of the dreams she had. She wanted to travel the world and see new places. She looked through the book for two days. Eventually she knew what to do. That brings us back to the beginning of our story.

Natasha snuck out on the third day in the dark of night. She had packed one trunk with clothes and carried a small satchel with her. She had gotten the secret money from her cupboard. The money was something only she knew about. He mother and father gave her little pieces of silver and gold throughout the years. Natasha had saved every piece of it. The second day she went and sold all of it and asked if there was a boat that would be travelling west the next day. There was.

Natasha sat on the dock with the voice of her father echoing in her head when a young sailor came to her. “Where are you heading young lady?” He said this in an accent that she did not recognize. She stood up and spoke English to the man, she spoke four languages but she loved English the most, “I am looking to go west. To, how do you say, the new world?” The young man smiled, “Of course darling. You want to go to America?” Natasha shook her head yes. “I am from there,” the young man said with his southern twang, “Do you know where you want to go? I mean which state you want to go to?” Natasha said, “I want to be free.”

The young man smiled and did not say anything. Natasha knew he understood because he took her bag and lead her onto the boat. Natasha watched as the land she once loved and knew as her home became small in the distance and smiled. She was free.