Have you ever discovered an old ancestor’s photograph and wondered — what was that person thinking about?

What was their life like? 

How did they overcome obstacles?

After opening boxes for an upcoming move, my husband and I came across a number of photographs and an old suffragette card from his grandma Fanny.  I wanted to imagine what she could have written to her sister, Bessie, who also dealt with her own challenges.
My Dearest Bessie,

I hope this letter finds you in one of your better moods, perhaps perched near a window with a cigarette in hand, watching the world go by. I always admired your independence — even if Papa never forgave you for loving someone he didn’t approve of. Truth is, we both lived with more fire in our hearts than many knew what to do with.

I’m writing today not because I’m lonely — though I won’t pretend the nights aren’t long — but because I needed to put these words somewhere. Somewhere safe. Somewhere real.