Now I'm Falling

~ c. •• ~

    Alice was unbelievably sad. Her father was gone, if only for a month, but her mother was now falling terribly sick. Jaylen was bed-ridden, and Alice had to take over doing everything around the house. Cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, and everything else. She hardly ever found any time for herself. 

    Today wasn't any different. Alice woke up, sluggishly waltzed down the stairs into the kitchen, an began making grits and eggs for her mother. She finished making the food and brought it upstairs to her mother, who was laying awake in bed. 

    Jaylen looked worse than usual. Her skin was nearly white, the pupils of her dark brown eyes seemed slightly dilated. Alice's eyes instantly widened at her mother's condition.

    "Ma..." muttered Alice worriedly, walking up to her mother and placing the food on her bedside table.

    "Alice... is that you?" Asked Jaylen, voice raspy and weak. 

    Alice shhed. "Save your strength..." muttered Alice, kneeling down beside Jaylen's bed. Alice grabbed her mother's right hand. Jaylen reached over and placed her left hand on Alice's. "Will you be alright?" Asked Alice, beginning to get increasingly worried for her mother. 

    Jaylen shrugged. "I hope," she said, breaking out into a coughing fit and covering her mouth with a handkerchief. She pulled it away from her mouth, the white cloth littered with dark red. 

    "Ma..!" Exclaimed Alice in a panic. 

    Jaylen held a hand up to stop Alice. "I'll be alright..." said Jaylen. "I love you," she muttered, Jaylen's labored breathing getting weaker. She was dying. 

    "Ma! Ma!" Shouted Alice in an attempt to wake her mother up. She knew Jaylen was dying, but she wasn't going to accept that. What was Alice going to say to her father? 

    There was no response. All was silent except for Alice's breathing and short cries. All was quiet. It was peaceful. 

    Alice's father arrived back home in the next week. Alice had wrote to George about the fact that Jaylen was sick, and wrote to him when her mother died. Apparently, George Harley told George Washington (yes, the general. The two George's had shared a few drinks over the time) about his situation and George Harley was excused from battle for a week to mourn. 

    Alice grimly greeted her father when he arrived, the favor being returned from the former. Alice made food for herself and her father, setting the table and serving their plates in silence. 

    Alice sat at her spot at the table next to her father, who was seated at the head. The two ate in an uncomfortable silence until George spoke up. "Alice, dear," he started, as Alice looked up at her father. He took a deep breath. "I want you to come back to Valley Forge with me."

    Alice nearly spit out her water. Her? To Valley Forge? She wouldn't. She couldn't. She didn't care if it was to fight or just help out or what, she wouldn't. Besides, she had heard stories around town about many families losing members who went out to war just from the cold temperatures and harsh conditions. Alice wasn't ready to risk her life, even if she wasn't fighting. People are wasting away in pestilence and starvation at Valley Forge! 

    Alice began to say something, but her father held up a hand. "Listen, you wouldn't be fighting."

    "Well, I didn't think so," responded Alice in a snarky tone. 

    George gave her a look. "You would be a nurse," he stated. "We need much more help up at Valley Forge. People are dying left and right. We need more nurses, even Washington said it himself," explained George.