egoose

Dear Journal,

 Although I now reflect from my grave, I feel it important to not let these past few years escape. I will catch the reader up on what happened leading to my death.

Dimmesdale finally looked happier and healthier than ever, following our board of the ship to Europe. In fact, Pearl had stated that she barely recognized him. She said she wanted kiss him - return the kiss he had given her. I did not let her. While the fact that Dimmesdale had seemed happy was a great thing, it also made me feel uneasy. I felt as though we were separated by these changes. Mistress Hibbins approached me, speaking of her knowledge of the Black Man. I did not realize that what she was saying may have actually been truth. She told me that Dimmesdale would soon show his "mark."

I went to listen to Dimmesdale sermon that he had worked so hard on. While I there, Pearl returned after wandering the marketplace with a message telling me to board the ship with only her, for Chillingworth would make arrangements for boarding Dimmesdale. This worried me, but I tried hard not to show it, for I knew everyone was staring me at me.

The sermon was outstanding. As I left the church, I could hear people saying it was his best ever - most true - most real. He called Pearl and me to join him, and mounted the scaffold with us. This was a surprise to both of us until he told us tat God had told him to do this. The crowd stared at us. It was then that Dimmesdale stood, and confessed his sin to the town. He showed everyone his mark, just as Mistress Hibbins had told me he would. People stood in astonishment, and Pearl finally gave him the kiss, symbolizing acceptance, that she had wanted to give him earlier. It was then that he sunk into the scaffold, dying. I asked him if we'd live our afterlives together. His response was that God would answer that question. He died.

About a year passed before Chillingworth, too, passed away. He left Pearl a substantial amount in his will. Pearl and I left town for awhile, and returned alone. I resumed the same work I used to do, working with and for the community - wearing my scarlet letter "A" always.

I now share a headstone with Dimmesdale, where the letter "A" stands boldly with a black background. Of this, I find no shame.