The Hamilton Lifestyle

Thanksgiving

Eliza's Pov

Thanksgiving was always a big event in the Hamilton household. This year, the family was staying at Eliza's mother's house in upstate New York, along with Eliza's sisters Angelica and Peggy.

Philip, who was two minutes older than his twin sister Angie, was excited to spend time with his family, but he couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety that had been building inside him. He had been feeling sick all week, his stomach churning with nausea and pain. He tried to ignore it, but he knew that something was wrong.

On Thanksgiving Day, the family gathered around the table for a feast of turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings. Philip tried to eat, but his stomach rebelled at the sight and smell of the food. He pushed his plate away, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He bolted from the table and ran to the bathroom, barely making it in time before he threw up.

The sound of his retching echoed through the house. Philip felt humiliated, exposed. He knew that his family could hear him, could see him at his weakest.

"Philip, are you okay?" Eliza called out from the other side of the door.

Philip wiped his mouth and tried to compose himself. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little sick."

Alexander appeared next to Eliza, concern etched on his face. "Let us in, son. We want to make sure you're okay."

Philip hesitated for a moment, then unlocked the door and let his parents in. They rushed to his side, their hands on his back and forehead.

"Are you running a fever?" Eliza asked, feeling his forehead.

Philip shook his head. "No, I don't think so. It's just my stomach."

Alexander rubbed his back soothingly. "It's okay, son. We'll take care of you."

As they helped Philip back to his feet, Angie appeared in the doorway, a smirk on her face. "What's the matter, little brother? Can't handle your turkey?"

Philip felt a surge of anger and shame. He knew that Angie was just trying to taunt him, to make him feel even worse than he already did. But he couldn't help the way he felt.

"Leave him alone, Angie," Eliza scolded. "He's not feeling well."

Angie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm going back to the table."

As she left, Philip felt a pang of jealousy. He wished that he could be more like his sister, confident and outgoing. But he knew that he was different, that he had to deal with his illness in his own way.

He stumbled back to his seat, feeling the eyes of his family on him. He tried to ignore them, to focus on his breathing and calm his racing heart.

But it was no use. The nausea came back, stronger than ever. Philip bolted from the table again, running to the bathroom and throwing up once more.

This time, he couldn't hold back the tears. He felt like a failure, a disappointment to his family. He knew that they would never understand what he was going through, that they would always see him as weak and fragile.

As he lay on the bathroom floor, he heard a knock on the door. "Philip, it's us," Eliza called out.

Philip wiped his eyes and unlocked the door. His parents rushed in, concern etched on their faces.

"Are you okay, son?" Alexander asked, kneeling down beside him.

Philip shook his head. "I don't know. I just feel so sick."

Eliza stroked his hair gently. "It's okay, sweetie. We'll take care of you. Let's get you back to bed."

As they helped him to his feet, Philip felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that he wasn't alone, that his family would always be there for him. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to overcome his illness and prove to himself and his family that he was strong enough to handle anything that came his way.