MY PAST LIVES
Wife of a Norwegian sailor in Cardiff, second half of 19th century.
This is one of the most peaceful and mundane lives I have had in recent times. It took place in Cardiff, Wales. I grew up in a humble little house with my parents. I don't remember any sibling.
When they died, I inherited the house. By that time, I already knew the Norwegian merchant sailor, named Jan, with whom I was going to share a great number of my days, at least when he wasn't sailing.
We never got married due to several issues with the priest, fact that gave rise to some gossip in the town. I earned my life helping fishermen and selling fish in the market. I had to spend lots of time on my own and that wasn't easy. Even so, Jan and I had a daugther we called Elisabeth, but unfortunately she died of scarlet fever at around eleven years of age.
Without anything else to keep me in Wales, Jan and I decided to leave for Norway, where we would live with his great family and he would stop sailing.
Not long afterwards I died of a respiratory illness. Jan was by my side until the very last moment.