Marriage?

Helga,

I can only imagine and predict that the pain you experienced and lapsed into towards the end of your journey was multiplied, due to the fact that you spent a lifetime attempting to overcome those same exact things. It feels as though you, similar to other African American women of the time, viewed marriage as an escape of sorts that would offer safety and healing. Perhaps this was the result of the desire to love and be loved or because the times made it challenging for a woman to be on her own. This brings back the idea of the happily ever after ending and whether or not it was truly attainable.