I am Virginia Eliza Clemm and I was born on August 15, 1822. I first met my cousin Edgar Poe in August 1829. We were married in 1836 and were married for 11 years. Eleven, long, impoverished years. While I put up with his drunkeness and his philandering and unfaithfulness. During this time I was diagnosed with tuberculosis and the doctor came each day. Poor Edgar was beside himself with grief for fear of losing me. Each night after I was safely ensconced in bed he would walk to the local tavern to drink himself into a stupor befor the next mornings light. One night a man came up to him and told him of a special elixer that could cure me! Poor Edgar was half drunk by this time and agreed to pay the man every cent we owned. The next morning he begged me to drink it and finally out of fear and worry of Edgars health, I did.
When I came to, I was on a steam ship! I panicked at not having known how I got there and I could not leave the room as the door was bolted from the outside. Several hours later a man came in and brought with him a tray of food. He left it and then closed and relocked the door behind him. I ate like a ravenous pig! Chicken and biscuits, jams and candies, cheeses and crackers and fruits! Best of all was the chocolate cake. My favorite! I ate and ate until I couldnt eat anymore. Then I laid down upon my bed and once again I slept.
The next time I came to another man was sitting next to the bed. He told me a story of how Edgar had sold some of his writings and with me being so sick he hired this man to take me across the sea to a place where I might get well. The man took good care of me and I eventually learned his name was Claude and we became good friends. I was feeling stronger everyday and we would take walks and watch the sunsets. We arrived in a harbor I do not remember and boarded a train. Once on the train we watch the scenery fly by each day and the stars each night. We laughed and joked and read books and periodicals together. And every so often, he would have me drink the elixer.
Eventually we made our way to Germany. This is where we set up housekeeping and began to prepare for Edgar to join us. For a year I worked and grew healthier and happier. Finally the day came when Edgar was supposed to join us but there was no Edgar on the train. We went back day after day and still no edgar. One day Claude came with a telegraph that my beloved Edgar, was dead. That he had had a carriage accident and passed a way. I was devistated. I demanded to go back but Claude said there was no money to send me. I was unhappy about my Edgar but had started a life of sorts with Claude already. The only difference being that eventually there would be no Edgar to join me. Eventually Claude and I grew closer and three years after we had moved into the little house, he asked me to marry him. I did.
We tried to have children but never could. A side effect from the medication for my tuberculosis he said. So we adopted orphans from the town. There were so many and it felt good to be able to offer a little compassion where we could.
So we lived and laughed and eventually even loved in our little cottage.....until, one night someone came banging at the door. Claude got up to go see who it was. When he opened the door a man skewered him with a sword! I was apalled and horrified! Quickly I ran to protect the children but a man grabbed me by my hair and held me into the air as I scratched and struggled and begged and pleaded for the lives of my children. They were not spared. Neither was I. After my children were slain, my throat was cut. Then we were all left there in a bloody heap.
The next morning I awoke to the massacre of my family. I checked each one but found no one else alive. Why had I been spared. I checked my own wound and found it was not too deep. Probably why I had survived. I grabbed a vial of the medication Claude gave me for my tuberculosis and smeared it on my throat. It was the only medicinal item we had in the house and it reasoned if it could cure my lungs it should be able to help my wound. I then bound the wound with cloth, packed a basket of food and pocketed any bit of money we had to our names. I knew if I stayed and they found out, they would return and finish the job and as much as I hated to leave my poor family like this, I had no choice. One last look back and then I was out the door. Into the dark and the unknown.
