Hand in hand, I walked down the streets of New York City with Richard. The streets were buzzing with chatter and noise from the recent election taking part this week. I was never one for politics as that was my husband Richard’s job and mine was to manage his estate, but no one could keep their ears from bending that way. It was the talk of the city, maybe even the whole country. I’ve only heard her name go through my ears once, but she had once again done the unthinkable. What an interesting woman she was. I clutched my beige purse against my chest as Richard and I continued down the street.

“Really? That mutton-head of a woman?” Richard rubbed the temples of his forehead as he spoke, “Does she really think her campaign will reach her the top spot?” 

“If she did once, couldn’t she make it once more?” But I held that thought afraid Richard would take offense with it. “Who knows dear,” I rubbed soft circular motions on the palm of his hand, “Don’t stress Richard, you don’t want to lollygag on the rest of your work over some woman do you?”. Richard offered me a small smile as his hold on my hand tightened some. Oh, how he didn’t know he wasn’t the only one with that woman in his head. 

“My love, could you buy some of these?” I stopped us at a nearby newspaper stand. His nose wrinkled in slight discomfort as he held one the newspaper in his pristine hands. 

“Anna, are you serious? Again?” He furrowed his brows at me. 

“Charles keeps littering the kitchen with his droppings and leaves an awful stench for days,” I explained as I grabbed a couple more newspapers on the stand, “It would be less distracting if we put some under his box, what do you say?” I flashed my eyelashes at him as I pleaded. He took the newspapers from my hands and stormed off to pay for them inside the shop. As I waited for him to finish paying, a headline caught my eye: 

“The Cosmo Political Party; Nomination for President of the U.S, Victoria C. Woodhull”. I rapidly snatched one from the stand and stuffed it in my purse just before Richard came back. He stuffed the newspapers into my hands without another word and walked towards the direction of his estate. I sighed and quickly went to catch up with him, feeling content with my success.

Richard had already stormed off to his office room by the time I locked the main entrance door behind me. I entered the kitchen and set down the newspapers on the counters, looking over my shoulders briefly for signs of Richard. With no signs of him, I rummaged through my purse to find the newspaper I had stuffed inside earlier. I spun on my heels as I pulled it out and set it down on the counter. My eyes glossed over the words, examining each and every one until I read one of the weekly sections:

“Victoria C. Woodhull: The First Woman Ballot. First woman stock broker Victoria Woodhull is now creating a culture of community for women across the nation as she becomes the first woman ballot to run for presidency!”.

So it was true. I had heard her name once a while back when she first made the headlines. 10 years back she had become the first female stockbroker alongside her sister and published their first ever newspaper company. I had not had a chance to read any of their newspaper articles since Richard would lose his marbles if I even suggested the idea, but I had heard my coffee-sisters talk about them. Richard would call them “radical” ideas if he ever caught glimpses of her articles. Her ideas were new, fascinating, and ultimately so interesting. It made me want to pack up my bags and leave to become a teacher. But with the way things were at the time, it was better for me to stay here and manage the estate for Richard. Things are different now. If Victoria Woodhull could go out there and run for presidency while being with her husband, why couldn’t I? Before I could flip further into the article, Richard had suddenly come stomping into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” He snapped at me, his eyes bulging out of his eye sockets. I stood there frozen for a second, but that only seemed to anger him further. “I’m asking you a question, Anna! Why are you holding that blasphemous newspaper?!” He tried snatching it away from my hands, but was stopped by my hand.

“Richard, are you seeing yourself? You’re causing such a show and for what? It’s just a newspaper!”

“It’s not just a newspaper! Don’t you understand?! I got you the newspapers so you could take care of Charles, not mess up your head”

“How so? I see nothing wrong with keeping up with news”

“Nothing! But there’s something wrong when that woman gets involved. Why don’t you understand that Anna?! I’m just trying to protect you…” Richard said as he reached out for my hands. He always did this whenever we get into any type of arguments. But a fire in me grew inside me. I rushed out of the estate without a second thought, leaving all my things except the newspaper in my hands behind. The only thought in my head being running far away from this place.

Maryland wasn’t New York, but it had many things. One of them was the legalization of divorce. I divorced Richard two months ago and I couldn’t be more content. Although I didn’t see my coffee-girls anymore, I busied myself with my new job, teaching. I had always wanted to become a teacher since I was a girl, but my plans changed one I married Richard. Now that I was divorced, I could finally become that very thing I’ve dreamed of. I turned the keys of my new home and opened the door. Compared to Richard’s estate, this home alone could be the size of one of his guest rooms. That didn’t matter to me though as I set down my bag and keys on the dining table. I raised to look up at the newspaper framed on the center of the dining room, the newspaper and woman who inspired me to change my life. She may not have won presidency, but she definitely inspired others like me. I have even received letters from some of my coffee-girls that they might start out their own careers. Victoria Woodhull really changed my life,  I would love to meet her one day. But for now, I need to grade my kids assignments.