8 Days, 8 Letters; Spot Conlon

Solar Eclipse

Song: Good For You from Dear Evan Hansen

Present Day: July 1899

Jack's POV

I headed back down to the cellar after my second day of being a scabber.

The day I first betrayed them constantly ran through my mind.
Mush, one of my closest friends, was begging him to look at me. Blink was repeatedly asking me what I was doing. Spot and Race were threatening to soak me since I was a "dirty rotten scabber" as Spot put it. Heck he tried jumping over the wall of bulls to try and soak me. He probably would've beat me to a pulp had they not been there.

Then there was Davey and Jaime. The most logical people I knew were tearing into me and then also tried to soak me. I suppose I deserve it. I wasn't great to them, but I couldn't tell them that I didn't want to.

I couldn't tell them anything about Pulitzer's deal. I know they would've understood, but when I told Pulitzer my answer he made me say I wouldn't tell them anything. It's better off if they hate me. At least they're safe.

Jaime's words came into my mind. Those were the ones I had repeated the most.

"I didn't need you when you left me in Brooklyn and I certainly don't need you now, Francis!"

"You're certainly acting like him."

"You're no brother of mine."

"Tell me when you's find my brother, Jack. He looks just like you except he's loyal and considerate."

I took her ring out of my pocket. I had hung on to it since she gave it to me.

Out of everything she said, one thing stuck out to me: Francis. I was named after my grandfather, so when he was alive everyone called me by my middle name so no one got confused. After my grandfather died when I was seven, the name just stuck. No one ever called me that.

Well no one except my father after my mother passed.

I closed my hand around the ring and brought it close to my heart.

I'm sorry Jaime. I promise, I'm just trying to protect you.

I sat on the old printing press that I had been sleeping on.

Pulitzer sure showed his "star employee" top treatment.

My back still aches from last night's sleep.

I climbed on the press and tried to get comfortable.

I fell asleep after hours of tossing and turning.

I was in a dark room.

"Hello?" I called.

Suddenly a light appeared, shining on Jaime who was now in front of me. She faced away from me.

"James?"

She didn't turn around.

Jaime: So you found a place where the grass is greener
And you jumped the fence to the other side
Is it good?
Are they giving you a world I could never provide?

She turned around to face me, a mix of anger and hurt showed in her eyes.

Jaime: Well I hope your proud of your big decision
Yeah, I hope it's all that you want and more
Now you're free from the agonizing life you were living before