1778
My next class is up ahead. The doors of the lecture hall are already open, but before I'm able to reach the door, someone grabs my arm.
"Hey!" I shout, ripping my arm away. I am truly not in the mood for antics; I did not sleep well the night before, and the last lecture did not help my antsy mind.
"Pardon me!" a creature says back, becoming defensive. When I am no longer blinded by frustration and anger, someone is standing before me. She has long red hair and a plain, cream cotton dress on. She has a brown satchel at her side, and the wildest eyes I've ever seen.
"What is it? I have to get to class."
"Are you Erin Burr?"
I pause. "That depends. Who's asking?"
The redhead laughs, throwing her head back. I don't laugh with her. "You're funny, Erin!"
"Burr. Please. Only my parents were allowed called me Erin," I roll my eyes, trying to forgive the redhead for her insensitivity.
"Well, surely they still call you Erin, right? Why are you using past tense?"
I look her up and down, not saying anything. I uncomfortably shift my back onto my other shoulder. My heart is pounding in my ears, now.
"Oh. You're an orphan…"
"Yes. I'm an orphan. Now, will you excuse me…?" I realize that this person didn't even tell me their name.
"Alexandra Hamilton." She takes pride in her name; the name no one in the entirety of the thirteen colonies has heard before.
"Alexandra. Yes. Okay." I turn back to the door.
"I'm an orphan too, Burr. My mother left and my father… well, he passed from illness. I can't remember what it's called."
"Alexandra, I'm sorry, but I really must be going. It was wonderful meeting you."
She smiles brightly. "Likewise!" She still doesn't get it. I can't tell if it's naivete, or if something is clinically wrong with this girl.
"Goodbye, Alexandra."
"Goodbye, Erin Burr."