Alexander

I sighed, clutching my head. I often got premonitions when something was wrong, and they'd leave me with the worst headaches.

Anyway, I was trying to sleep off the pain, but it was worse than ever, when I heard a faint: "I may not live to see our glory" in the background. I dismissed it, sure I'd imagined it.

"Alexander, may I come in?" Eliza asked. I mumbled a faint "yes" and squeezed my eyes against the pillow.

"How's your headache?" She asked. I grumbled something incoherent, trying to block out the light of the small lantern. She gently stroked my hair, and I grabbed her hand, holding onto it. She leaned in, hugging me tightly.

I saw tears in her eyes and asked what was wrong. She hugged me tightly and put a letter onto my lap. I squinted, but the light was too dim and my head felt like it was splitting itself in half as I tried to focus.

"Wazzup?" I slurred, unable to summon the energy to say anything else.

"Alexander, there's a letter for you from South Carolina."

I stared, confused, as a faint echo of a: "but I will gladly join the fight" sounded through the room.

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

"And when our children tell our story…" the voice said.

"No, it's not."

"They'll tell the story of tonight."

I was very confused. What was the voice, why did sound like John's voice, and who sent the letter?

Either way, it was probably important, so I asked Eliza to read it for me, as I couldn't.

"On Tuesday the 27th, Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens was killed in a gunfight against British troops in South Carolina. These troops had not yet received word from Yorktown that the war was over. He's buried here until his family can send for his remains. As you may know, Lieutenant Colonel Laurens was engaged in recruiting 3,000 men for the first all black military regiment. The surviving member of this regiment have been returned to their masters," Eliza said.

I felt tears in my eyes, as Johns voice echoed through the room one last time.

"Tomorrow, there'll be more of us."

I couldn't focus. My head hurt, my chest hurt, my entire body hurt. John could not be dead. It was just unimaginable.

"Alexander, are you alright?" Eliza's sweet voice pierced through the pain. I brushed tears away from my eyes, trying to think of an excuse to leave, not that I didn't love my wife.

I finally fell on my classic, "I have so much work to do." It was so fake, and I knew she could see through it, but I needed to get out.

I left and ran into my office, tears leaking from my eyes. I slammed the door and sat against it, sobbing violently.

John was not dead. He couldn't be like my brother, or my mom, because he was so strong and… and I couldn't handle it. I just couldn't. John couldn't be dead.

At least my headache was gone.

I cried so much writing this. Please review and suggest a song!