Guys, thank you so much!
Y'all requested three different songs, so I'll do all of them; in order that I got the request: It's Quiet Uptown, Satisfied and Dear Theodosia [Reprise].
In response to Phantom Actress, thank you! This chapter will be It's Quiet Uptown. Incredible song, by the way, and I look forward to the challenge!
In response to . , thank you! Satisfied will be next. Really great idea, I'd never have thought of it!
In response to Twins 'n Fandoms, yes, it's A-OK to request off-Broadway songs or original songs. And that was a really good idea as well, thank you!
Here is… Its Quiet Uptown, as interpreted by Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton!
I sat down. My eyes hurt from crying. I reached for Angelica. She sang yet another childhood melody, this one from when Mother died, although she adapted it for his specific situation.
"There are moments that the words don't reach. There is suffering too terrible to name. You hold your child as tight as you can, and push away the unimaginable. The moments when you're in so deep, it feels easier to just swim down," she sang. I recognized the melody and part of the lyrics. In a way, it was soothing. My sister's presence was calming.
I thought back to when we moved Uptown, and learned to live with the unimaginable.
Alexander had spent hours in the garden, and walked alone to the store. It's quiet uptown. He never liked the quiet before. He'd take the children to church on Sunday, the sign of the cross at the door. And he'd pray, that never used to happen before.
I heard Angelica telling her father this: "If you see him in the street, walking by himself, talking to himself, have pity."
I felt like crying everytime I heard that, until I passed him. He was muttering something that sounded like this: "Philip, you would like it uptown, it's quiet uptown."
Instantly, I understood why others pitied him. He seemed so heartbroken, so devastated.
I heard more of what Angelica told her father: "His hair has gone gray, he passes everyday; they say he walks the length of the city."
I also heard another of his comments, when he was alone and thought he was the only one awake: "You knock me out, I fall apart."
This broke my heart. I remembered that Alexander had emotions too. In fact, he'd be more emotional than I'd be. Could I ever imagine this, plus the unimaginable guilt he'd be feeling?
A week later, I was sitting next to him on a bench, in the park. I was watching him talk, the look of heartbreak and devastation on his face unimaginable.
"Look at where we are," he started, looking down, "look at where we started. I know I don't deserve you, Eliza, but hear me out." I looked up. "That would be enough." I smiled at the old argument we'd had a million years ago. It seemed so unimportant now.
"If I could spare his life, if I could trade his life for mine, he'd be standing here right now, and you would smile, and that would be enough."
I stared. No, I'd be equally as sad. He sighed, making eye contact. His eyes were filled with tears.
"I don't pretend to know the challenges we're facing." I smiled. "I know there's no replacing what we've lost, and you need time." He looked down again., and then back up, his eyes filled with his signature determined conviction, despite the growing watery-ness.
"But I'm not afraid, I know who I married."
I thought back to the argument. It'd seemed to big, so major. Now it seemed like nothing.
He looked down for his final argument.
"Just let me stay here by your side, that would be enough," he finished. I nodded, tears in my eyes. He'd done another fine job of the art known as Making Eliza Speechless.
The next day, we'd been sitting on top of a hill, staring out at Manhattan and the sunset.
"Eliza, do you like it uptown, it's quiet uptown," he said. I nodded.
"Look around, look around, Eliza!"
The next day, I was with Angelica, and she resang me the melody, but different lyrics yet again.
"There are moments where the words don't reach, there's a grace too powerful to name. We push away what we can never understand, we push away the unimaginable."
I smiled. I was willing to forgive Alexander. I told that to Angelica. She smiled, pushing me away to find my husband.
I found Alex in the garden. I stood next to him. He smiled, allowing the wind to ruffle his hair. I took his hand, and muttered my first words since the whole ordeal had started.
"It's quiet uptown."
That… was beautiful to write. I hope you enjoyed this as much I did writing it, because I had a really good time.
It's Quiet Uptown was truly a challenge to write, as it switches characters multiple times, but I think that the end result was worth it, despite the frequent time skips.
I will see y'all soon. Have a good life!