I may not live to see our glory

2 ~ Dear Theodosia + Laurens Interlude

Someone was crying. I grumbled, bringing my arms up to my ears to try and muffle the infernal wailing. What was going on? Can't I get a decent amount of sleep after fighting for so long?

I cracked open my eyes, only to be met with a strange change in scenery. No longer was I slumped on a riverbank, I was curled on the wooden floor of a bedroom, heated by a crackling fireplace. I sighed, getting to my feet to survey my surroundings. The room was oddly familiar, like I had seen something similar in a dream, or perhaps a memory.

I turned towards the source of the commotion, a crib resting near the wall, a figure sitting in the room. Walking towards it, I couldn't help but notice the soft song the man sitting near the crib was sitting.

"Alexander?" I gasped, getting a full view of his face.

There was no answer, only the soft sound of his voice that I adored to listen to. I sat at his feet to listen, like I had always done, except there was usually a chair nearby.

You will come of age with our young nation

We'll bleed and fight for you

We'll make it right for you

If we lay a strong enough foundation

We'll pass it on to you

We'll give the world to you

And you'll blow us all away

I could listen to that voice all day. Oh, Alexander, I'm so sorry I couldn't be here for you. But it's okay, you found someone else to spend the rest of your life with and I don't blame you for choosing sweet, marvellous Eliza. But it still hurt. Why couldn't we have what you and Eliza have? Still, I should be happy for you, I suppose. It's good that you were able to get the happiness I couldn't give you.

Alexander sighed, tucking in his child, his singing coming in whispers now.

Yeah, you'll blow us all away

Someday...someday...

I smiled, a bittersweet sensation brewing in the pit of my stomach as I followed Alexander out of the room into what I assumed was his study.

Humming to himself, he placed a piece of parchment paper atop the table and rummaged in a drawer for a quill.

My dearest, John Laurens, he wrote, then paused, tapping his quill against his face as he would always do while lost in thought, a small smile on his face.

"Dear John Laurens, what to say to you?" he pondered aloud as I stood there like a fool, in silent anticipation.

I never got to hear what he had to say to me, as Eliza knocked on the doorframe, a sombre expression on her face. Alexander stood up, walking to embrace her.

I sang softly to myself, granting myself some comfort from what was undoubtedly to come.

I may not live to see our glory

"Alexander? There's a letter for you from South Carolina."

Alexander chuckled a little, a lopsided grin gracing his face.

"If it's from John Laurens, I'll read it later."

But I will gladly join the fight

God knows how Eliza would react if she read the...how to say it...intimate letters we sent between each other.

The sombre atmosphere in the room deepened, along with Eliza's frown.

"No, it's not. It's from his father."