Kerri Truitt

Let me start out by saying I don't remember much from my childhood. Of my memories, the most important thing that happened to me was at the age of five, and that was when I was adopted by Caroline Frankenstein. "They consulted their village priest, and the result was that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parent's house. Chapter 1, page 21." My family was not rich, nor part of the middle class. We were a poor, little Italian family.

Since I was a little girl, I have been told I was beautiful and sweet. "The saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home. Her sympathy was ours; her smile, her soft voice, the sweet glance of her celestial eyes, were ever there to bless and animate us. Chapter 2, page 23." Caroline adopted me into her family, meaning that I was going to have a brother named Victor. Victor and I grew up to be very close. We did not like being called brother and sister. Instead, we called one another cousin. "We called each otherfamiliarly by the name of cousin. No word, no expression could body forth them kind of relation in which she stood to me- my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only. Chapter 1, page 21." Victor and I grew so close that we decided to get married.

When I was seventeen years old, I was stricken with scarlet fever. My mother was told not to take care of me, in fear of her getting sick also. However, she did anyway. The event ended fortunately for myself, but not for my mother. Scarlet fever had overcome her at my bedside. Within three days, my mother had died in the event of caring for me. "Elizabeth had caught scarlet fever; her illness was severe and she was in the greatest danger. During her illness many arguments had been urged to persuade my mother to refrain from attending upon her. She had at first yielded to our entreaties, but when she heard that the life of her favourite was menaced, she could no longer control her anxiety. She attended her sickbed. Chapter 3, page28."

While Victor was away on his voyage, I would write him letters to keep in touch and let him know he was missed. "Get well and return to us. You will find a happy, cheerful home and friends who love your dearly. Chapter 6, page 48." However, during the writing of those letters, I had fear running through my mind. Fear of Victor loving another woman.Luckily, Victor did not fall in love with any other women. He married me. He told me that since I was beautiful, I mu