Disclaimer- I do not own fever 1793; Laurie Anderson Does. *sigh*

November 10, 1793

"When unhappy, one doubts everything; when happy, one doubts nothing."

-Joseph Roux (French artist), 1725-1793

The days passed more rapidly after I realized I have each person in my life. I know that Eliza and everyone else figured out about my life moment of personal recognition.

As I smelled the lovely smell of freshly brewed coffee, the first pair of customers piled in. Their happiness of the fever ending rubbed a little on me. Eliza and could not be happier that the fever had ended, but we also have the heavy burden of how many it killed. Those days are behind us though. Slowly but surely I believe I am really getting over it.

Then, when another customer walks in, it breaks me from my thoughts. I look up from my coffee to see who it is. The person I recognize instantly, Nathaniel. For the other past few days he has been standing there for me.

"Hello." He says as he strides over to me.

"Hello Nathaniel." Eliza says, suddenly coming from nowhere ", How are the Peales?"

Nathaniel smiles a blissful smile.

"They're doing fine Ma'am."

Eliza smiles at Nathanial and starts to walk away from us, muttering on the way.

"That boy is going to eat us out of house and home."

"She may be right." Nathaniel states to me.

I smile, unable to hold it in.

"The reason I came in today is to see if you would want to see another balloon fly." He said to me.

I sigh.

"I can't come. Eliza needs help in the coffeehouse."

Then, suddenly, Eliza appears out of nowhere, again.

"Matilda Cook, I know you want to go see that balloon. I can handle the coffeehouse alone; you go to that balloon release."

"But Eliza—"

"No buts Matilda, you are going."

She then sets down a list of chores.

"But," She says "You have to do your chores first."

She walks away with Nathaniel and me staring after her.

"I consider she wants us to go to it." Nathaniel says.

I laugh and Nathaniel joins in.

The rest of the day goes in a kind of haze. We might have had the largest crowd we've ever had and I still would not have noticed. I was so excited for that day.

Eliza has been like a mother to me since mother's… disappearance. She orders me around, and makes and helps me do chores. But, I do not mind at all. Actually, it's the only thing I look forward to every day. It reminds me of mother. It is the only thing of her that I have left.

Just as Nathaniel left, little Nell came down for breakfast. She tries to jump up in her seat, but I end up having to help her.

She is like the little sister I never got to have. She looks down at her plate then looks back up at me. I then remember I hadn't made breakfast for her yet. I grab a pan and began to prepare breakfast.

The balloon launch wasn't held that week, due to the cold weather, and the rain. It didn't drizzle, it started to hail. This is another reason the launch didn't happen. I wasn't mad about the cold weather or the hail. I was thankful for the cold weather. It keeps the fever away. The first frost had destroyed the fever… so far. I just hope that it won't come back.

The launch was then rescheduled for next week. I couldn't wait for the next week. Nathaniel and I were getting restless because we wanted to see that balloon float up in the air, and then disappear into the clouds where we couldn't see it any more. That was what happened last time. But I am also hoping that something unexpected would happen. Maybe the balloon would drop some streamers or at least do something that didn't happen last time. Maybe I am being too hopeful.

Really I wouldn't care if nothing happened differently than last time. I am very happy of being able to get to see it again.

I watched as the days slowly turned into the next. Slowly awaiting the day I would get to see the launch. I could see it was affecting Nathaniel. He was nervous about the imminent release. We both certainly couldn't wait to see it.

Then, the day finally came.

"So, I hear the launch is today. I hope you have a good time." Eliza states to me as she washes our dishes after breakfast.

"I don't know Eliza… I really think I should stay here and help you with the coffeehouse."

"Nonsense, you go and see the launch with Nathaniel. I'll be fine on my own." She states this while she carries the clean dishes to the open window pane.

Eliza has a thing about keeping her promises. Precisely after I contemplate this, Nathaniel enters the coffeehouse.

"Are you ready to leave?" He asks me in fast voice.

"Definitely, just let me tell Eliza."

As we get to the square, where they are holding the launch, we see the balloon; A huge blue and green striped balloon. It hovers over the ground with a string attached to keep it to stay on the ground. The string would be cut when it was time for the balloon to be released.

We see many people. A lot of people want to see the release.

Then, suddenly, we hear the crowd roar. The balloon's been launched!

"Look Mattie!" Nathaniel yells, pointing at the balloon. We were just in time.

The balloon rises slowly, but surely. It made the crowd roar more and more as it got higher and higher. It looked glorious in the air. The clouds started to cover some of the balloon and we all knew it would disappear in a matter of minutes.

But, the balloon didn't disappear fast enough. Suddenly, we watch as something falls out of the balloon. We all knew what fell out of the balloon; a person.

(I am writing another chapter; note the cliffhanger. PLEASE R&R!)-( I have a plan to write a new chapter every month.)