Mary had been a slave for as long as she could remember. She was born into it, and her parents were slaves before her. It was all she knew, but that didn't make it any easier. Her days began early, with a quick breakfast of bread and water before she was sent to work in the fields. The work was hard, backbreaking labor from dawn till dusk under the hot sun. She would often fall exhausted into bed at night only to do it all again the next day. Despite the constant exhaustion and mistreatment, Mary found ways to cope with her situation. She had a small garden tucked away in a corner of the property where she could grow some vegetables for herself. It was a small comfort, but it gave her something to tend to that was just hers. Mary also tried to find solace in the company of other slaves on the plantation. They would gather together at night and share stories or sing songs. It wasn't much, but it made the days feel slightly less oppressive. Despite all the hardships she faced, Mary never lost hope. She dreamed of freedom one day, of leaving behind her life as a slave and living a life of her own choosing. And though that dream seemed impossible at times, she held onto it tightly. [370字]