A Gilded Cage of Broken Wings (Oneshot Collection)

Letters to a Dead Man

The Upper Peninsula is a state called Sylvania in this AU

August 12, 1868

Dear Michigan,

I must confess I don't know precisely why I am writing this letter. I suppose I am just curious about my Canadian neighbors, and I want to be on good terms with you. While I know that we are on good terms politically, I am curious about the men behind the governments. I am sending a similar letter to Ontario, asking if either of you is interested in meeting in person and fostering an era of peace in our region now that tensions between our borders seem to be dying down.

Sincerely,

The Superior State of Sylvania

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

September 7, 1868

Sylvania,

While I am intrigued by your offer, I will admit I am not willing to visit your land with my newborn brother due to our nation's history. While I do not want to slight you by implying your offer is deceitful, but I have little reason to trust an American state. Vermont insists you are being truthful, so I am willing to extend an offer for you to come to my capital city of Detroit and meet my younger brother and I.

I cannot say that it will start a friendship, but perhaps it can satisfy your curiosity and put suspicion to rest. If you are willing to accept those terms, then I will prepare accommodations for you and arrange the date.

Sincerely,

Michigan

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

September 28, 1868

Michigan,

I heard that you responded to Sylvania's letter and spent days agonizing over whether or not I should reach out to you. While you talked to Vermont and have responded, she has kept the details of your correspondence a secret, so I am unsure whether my letter will be appreciated. But I have much to say, and I am no longer willing to hold my tongue, not now, in the aftermath of our great Civil War.

Sometimes, I wonder if you remember any of our childhood, of the jokes, the joy, and the laughter. Some nights, I am haunted by those happy memories and the thoughts of what you are going through. Vermont says you are happy, and I try to believe that, but there is little it can do to soothe the unhappy thoughts that haunt my sleep.

I am so very sorry I wasn't there for you. I was the closest member of our family at the time, and I often regret not traveling to Detroit to protect your land, as you were not able to. I regret not being there to convince Hull not to surrender. If I had only been less foolish, I could have saved you from your fate.

I will never forgive myself for that. I hope you forgive me.

It is hard to put into words the many, many things I have to say to you. I want to know you are safe, that you are okay.

I miss you so much, little brother.

I hope that this letter is not an intrusion and that it doesn't get you in trouble with Britain. I know you and the Canadians are supposed to be somewhat independent now, but knowing Britain, I wonder how much control that really leaves you with.

If you are willing and able, I would like to meet you in person, to talk to you again. It has been many years. I miss you so.

Your faithful older brother,

Ohio

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

October 3, 1868

Michigan,

I couldn't believe it when I heard from Ohio that you were starting to talk to others in our family aside from Vermont. I was so happy that I nearly cried with joy. I have missed you so, so much, and I can't wait to start talking to you again.

It was terrifying losing you. I thought at first that you were just quieter than usual or that you had gone to sleep for a long time like Newport, Portsmouth, and Warwick sometimes do. Getting that letter and realizing that you were gone, that you had been taken by the man who had hurt our father so much, that hurt our family, I was so scared.

Learning that you weren't ever going to come home was scarier. I was so scared for you. You were my big brother, and you always seemed so strong, like nothing could hurt you.

And then Britain took you. And he hurt you. (I presume. Every British colony I have met has stories of how he hurt them, and considering how much he hates our father, I can't imagine he was willing to be nice to you.)

I didn't want to believe that you were going to be gone forever. I was convinced it was a trick, a lie, anything but the truth.

But he stole you.

Mitchigan, I miss you so much. I have never been closer to a brother than you, and every day, the ache from your being gone, being trapped, beats in my chest like another heartbeat. It is a gaping wound in my soul, one that has never healed. Sometimes, I will sit on the shores of the lake that shares your name and stare out across the water.

I cannot see your land, but I pretend I can. It helps.

I have bought your birthday gifts every year you and I have been apart. Since I got my body, that is. I sometimes wonder why. I have never gotten the chance to give them to you, and you and I have not spoken since we were both young and innocent.

I want to see you again if you are willing. I have a lot of gifts for you.

With all the love I have in my heart, your little brother,

Illinois

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

November 1, 1868

Sylvania,

Please tell your siblings to quit sending me letters. Vermont is my brother, and you are my neighbor, but I refuse to engage with any of the states involved in America's delusion that I was once American and am, therefore, his child. I won't have my family be dishonored by this.

I don't care who they think I am, but I will not be manipulated into thinking I am related to them. I will not give up my family to feed into the delusions of a country that I am not and have never been a part of. I will not betray my father or, my proper siblings, or my grandfather for them.

Please ensure they know that, as I do not want to be hounded by their letters and delusions.

Sincerely,

Michigan