A/N: Hi, I appreciate you reading this! I'm actually going to attempt to keep this ongoing now that I have time. This is kind of just about Alfred reminiscing on his past when he had his states. I hope you like!

There are fifty doors in this house. Fifty one if you count each memory they hold. Each one contains faces I never will see again, thoughts of happiness, thoughts of betrayal, and thoughts of depression. Fifty- one doors in this dark, decaying house that hold memories of my past life. My name is Alfred F. Jones; I used to be the once great nation of America. Those days are over, now I'm to walk this earth alone and forever while my life is torn to shreds. To reminisce of the better days, think of the ones I loved that are gone from my life now. I stand alone; alone in a house full of fifty- one doors, portals to the past.

It happened in the year of 2013, a year after the world was supposed to end. But personally, it was to me a year to prepare for the end. The calendar stopped so people would be pre-prepared, for the true end. On December 31st, midnight, Russia declared war on America. It was out of nowhere; but they both scrambled for allies to fight this bloody battle.

It only lasted two months and was a short fight but very, very dirty. When it was over Russia apologized. It turned out they had a power struggle, and finally were able to contain the issue. Unfortunately, this forced my country deeper into the hell hole called debt.

Most of the money we needed to pay off we owed to china. China had started its own slowly increasing economic slump because of our inability to pay him back. His boss couldn't take anymore of our crap. I always knew it would somehow end like this but I wasn't really prepared. Though quite frankly, I don't believe you can ever be prepared for the death of your country.

That crisp spring morning china showed up on my door step, more solemn then I had seen him in a long time. One would think I would put up a fight to keep my country together; there was such a slim possibility that I could pull through, there was no point to waste more money and destroy more lives. "Alfred, I have no choice but to take control of your lands. I'm very sorry and wish it hadn't come to this, aru~" I recall looking away, tears in my eyes, but trying to hold them back and be brave like Arthur told me when I was a child. But it was hard, oh so terribly hard to surrender my country.

I turned back to face the Asian nation, "I know Yao, I know why, and I can't say I didn't see this coming because I did. I'll go get the documents". A few of the treacherous tears broke past the barricades as I walked of to get all the documents. Everything after that is just a blur to me now; I remember the tears, fury, disappointment and slight relief of my people. The only conclusion I can come up with for the relief is the fact we were out of debt now.

No one would talk to me, not even my states. They only shot me looks that clearly showed their anger, disappointment, and that they thought of me as a traitor. My life went on like this for almost a year, then one day China came to talk to me. "Alfred, you being under my rule hasn't helped my economic crisis. If anything instead of making it better it's becoming worse." Yao paused and took a breath, then looked at Alfred for a sign to continue. I nodded, "My boss and I have come to the decision that we are going to have to auction off your lands."

I wont deny this surprised me slightly, I all honesty it surprised me a lot. I'm not sure of what I thought would happen in all honesty, but never pictured this. It wasn't like It was possible for me to refuse, so I just swallowed my choked refusal and nodded. Before Yao had left the room I caught a worried look on his face, he shouldn't worry about me.

He had more at stake than I did at the moment, I could handle it; without a doubt. I sat alone in an empty corner of my room for what felt like months. I took note of everything about the room; I wasn't sure what would become of me as I was stripped of my states. I realized nothing, nothing, was perfect in the four days I sat in my corner.

The ceiling was not pure white, tainted by such a pale tinge of yellow you could barely tell. The patterns in the wood varied in color depending on the board, some were light and others were dark. On the upper left corner of my comforter there was a stain from when I spilt my first cup of tea. Arthur had given it to me and I had spit it out right away. The tea had been bitter and unsweetened, I was too young to 'appreciate the flavor' Arthur had responded handing me a napkin. The pillow on the right side of my bed sat up straighter the left.

Those were the type of things I noticed in that state I had sunken into, a depression of sorts.

I vaguely recall Yao coming in on the third day with a plate of food telling me the auction would be in two days. I probably stared at the plate of food on the side table, another imperfection, for an hour. Smelling the food, the hunger had caught up with me.

It gnawed on my insides and scratched them begging for relief. I chose to eat a little so I wouldn't pass out. 'Not that it would matter' I snorted internally. I slowly picked at the rice and steamed vegetables. After eating about half and drinking down the glass of water, I grabbed the blanket of the foot of my bed and went back to my corner.

The next day passed by uneventful, and dull as always. I tried to sleep that night, knowing the dreadful event that was to take place the next day. At first it wouldn't come, but I still stayed and tried. In the end sleep won out and I fell into a uneasy dreamland.

I dreamed about my states and who would most likely buy what. I laughed the next day remembering how everybody had locked Russia out thinking he'd buy the whole of it. I thought of this the whole time I was getting ready, trying to forget about the true purpose of the day.

I had put on my nice silk, light gray shirt, black slacks and a matching tie after taking a long cold shower. I had finished dressing about two hours before sunrise, three before the time we needed to leave. I wanted to apologize, beg for forgiveness, and wish my states luck, but I couldn't bare to upset either of us further.

The minutes dragged on only three had passed before I had finished getting ready. I knew I needed to say farewell to Delaware. He was my first official state, where my constitution was written. And Virginia, the first to face the English. They had a part of me no one else had.

I quietly crept out of my room to the north-eastern part of the house. I silently grabbed the handle of Delaware's door, and let out a deep breath before opening it. He sat there at his desk his face in his palms, hunched over a small piece of paper.

I noticed the slick trails from silent tears rolling down his cheeks as I approached closer. When I was within viewing range I noticed it wasn't a sheet of paper but a photo; the one of him, the first thirteen and me holding the Declaration of Independence. I rested a hand on his shoulder and I a soft voice told him, "I'm sorry, for everything. After everything we had all worked so hard for, all the suffering we had gone through. You don't have to forgive me, I will understand if you don't but I want you to know that I am sorry and I love you."

I could see him choke back his sobs that were threatening to break loose. This was the first time I've seen Delaware cry in the longest time. It hurt, left aching pains on my heart, I think I'll forever be scarred with the image of his face when he looked up at me in tears. "I know, this was bound to happen. But we were free, even if it wasn't for very long, we still were. And I forgive you."

I sunk down and wrapped him in a hug. We stayed like that for the longest while who knew when I would see my son, brother, friend, again. After a few peaceful moments I let go. "I need to go set things straight with Virginia." he just gave me a small, teary eyed smile and nodded encouragingly. "Go".

I left his room with a shinning flow of water leaking from my eyes. I trudged down a few more doors till I reached Virginias. I opened her door and was shocked. I felt terrible; her room was always so clean and organized. One would think a tornado had ripped through. There were picture albums, loose photos, hand written journal entries, and several documents littering the floor.

This was worse than Delaware's crying. Virginia was the first to join him and Arthur. She was a neat freak, a fiery, passionate girl. And this girl curled up against her headboard surrounded by this mess; was an emotional wreck, a broken heart and utter devastation.

No, I couldn't wake her; this was probably the first time she's slept in a month. All I could do was lay her down and cover her up. I leaned in and softly kissed her cheek, and even though she couldn't hear me I whispered to her. "Virginia, I'm so terribly sorry. I will always remember you, and I hope you can find it in that large heart of yours to forgive me. I love you, good luck."

No more words could come out of my throat it felt dry and cracked. I shut the door silently behind me and went back towards my room. On the way I passed the door to Texas' room. That was one person I couldn't face. No matter how childish it was, he could have been free from all of this if I had let him secede all those years ago.

It was too late now. And if he never forgave me I would understand. I hurried into my room before I had a breakdown in the hallway. I made it over to the wall and sunk down to the ground and cried. Actually cried; I cried for my people, the hope they had, my family, the lives they lost, and even though it was selfish, I cried for myself.

It was about thirty minutes before we had to leave. I hurried to the closet and pulled out another shirt, seeing the one I had been wearing was ruined. I quickly put it on and wiped away the tear stains.

There was a knock on the door then. "Alfred, it's time to go." Yao's voice floated through the door.