Laureen struggled to adjust from a life of comfort to one of poverty after the Civil War. When offered a chance to leave the South, she eagerly accepted, despite the uncertainty ahead. Having never traveled far or made decisions independently—especially without considering her sister-in-law Florence—this journey marked a profound shift. Aboard the Sultana, she encountered unfamiliar aspects of life and began to experience a new kind of freedom—one rooted in personal choice rather than social or familial obligation. As she moved further from her past, her confidence grew, preparing her for the life-altering disaster that awaited.