Lilies tied with a baby blue ribbon.

Hey, we miss you. I know it's hard. I know what you've been through. I think we all do. That doesn't mean we know how it felt, all those terrible things, but I need you to know that we don't love you any less either. Please hang in there. I've visited you, you were asleep. I know you'll get this, though. I asked the nurse for a pencil and paper and to read it to you sometime. I know it will be weird because it isn't my voice.

I hope you find a reason to be happy because living when life is hell is something you've been doing for too long.

I want you to be happy. I will do anything to make you happier. I really will.

Hang in there,

Eliza

Freesia flowers, vibrant and flamboyant, in a elegantly curved vase.

Morning Alex.

Or, at least it's the morning when I'm writing this. That sounds weird. Something's wrong with that sentence. When you hear this you'll probably cringe and know exactly what it was. Maybe when you wake up you'll correct it.

I would grab you coffee, but it will be cold. The doctor said not to, and I think he really means it. He understands we care about you because you have so many visitors, calls, letters, and flowers. Sorry you can't see, they moved them to another room to prevent pollen getting places and starting infections or something.

You probably know the science behind that too. You better tell me all about how that works when you wake up. The doctor is doing everything and more to keep you alive because he realizes how much you are loved.

I hope you realize how much you are loved.

-Maria

Baguettes, French brie, French honeycomb chocolates.

Dear Alex,

You are very much a large part of this community. You teach the kids and we can tell they love you. They learn so much too. I know you have only taught for a few years but I know the kids you have taught will be brilliant.

Everyday I look forward to your writing and intelligent texts. I hope someday I will be as good as you at English. I look up to you, even if I'm taller. Usnavi is giving out get well and we miss you cards for free and he is nearly out.

I should say that my point is that we all look to you as a role model, as a hope for the future, that we all love your presence in our lives.

You are a ray of sunshine to all of us. Please, keep shining.

-Lafayette

A speaker playing a track of nice but calm beats in the otherwise silent room

Alex.

Hi. I hope you get better. More than that, I hope you want to get better. Never been one for words, that was your job. But seriously, we've all been miserable without you. So please, stay alive.

I don't pretend to know, the challenges you're facing, but I hope you know you are not alone.

I never dealt with depression, suicidal thoughts, or any of the horrible things you did. I am sorry, again, for the things you had to go through.

If I can help, please let me. Let the sun come streaming in, because you'll reach up and you'll rise again.

I'm here. You're not alone.

-herc.

Yellow buttercups in a cone of yellow paper, tied with yellow ribbon

You've done it this time idiot. I'm sorry. I should be nicer. Damn idiot, though, you know we want to slap you in the face, right? But we're too busy crying because you're sad.

wE mIsS yOU!

Did that irritate you? Yes? Then wake up and fix it. I wrote it in pencil. Except probably since it's read aloud you don't know. The caps was all over the place. Is is aloud or out loud? You tell me when you wake up.

We will love you literally to death, so don't die with way because you have a better death ahead of you.

I miss you. Me! Peggy! When was the last time I missed anyone?

I am seriously sorry for being so mean. Seriously, I am. Sally says this is too mean for someone who wants to die.

I disagree. You've been through so much. Just because you tried to die doesn't mean you're made of glass. You're literally the strongest person we know.

Figures you'd feel more isolated than ever if we treated you like you'll shatter. Grammar there sucks too, huh.

We miss you. If you can't read this- I guess if the nurse pauses or skips it's because the paper's wet. I've been crying. Tell anyone and I swear I'll cut your boyfriend's hair off.

*sobbing* Peggy

Lavender flowers, neatly tied with light brown twine.

Alexander,

You've helped so many people, made so many people's lives better. You know how much you've done for people, right? I don't know you as much as I know of you but I promise it's all good except for what Jefferson's said.

Lord, he deserves a beating. He'll get it, too. I promise.

I hear you're strong. Be strong enough to get through this.

-Sally

An "√-1 3 ma?h √16 ever" poster above the bed, rainbow background shimmering

Alexander Hamilton,

You have us in such a tangle over you. I almost got arrested for slapping the person who wouldn't let me visit you.

In all honesty, I think visiting hours are absolute bullshit. I told the hospital idiot as much, but, well, I was in trouble at that point and I decided not to get arrested. I hope you don't mind I wasn't able to visit you because I'll come back.

This letter might be hard to read because they won't let me in. I've already said that but I'm pissed. In any case, I refuse to just leave so here I am, writing a letter just outside your door. Lying down on my stomach in the middle of the hallway.

Poor maids. I don't care. You deserve a letter.

I want you here. I want you alive. I need you to hear the sterness in my voice. (Nurse, please read this in a stern voice. Thank you.) I miss you so much, sorry, they're kicking me out, god fucking-!

This is Angie.

Bye!

Piles of finished and graded work, as stack of brightly colored get well cards written and signed by kids.

Alex,

I am so sorry. So, so, so, so, so, so so sorry times a hundred. You would probably a hundred times over instead of times a hundred because you're smart like that.

I know you told me that Thomas wasn't my responsibility. This time it was, I promise, and I really am sorry. I am

I'll stop saying I'm sorry. I'm sorry, this is in pen so I can't exactly erase it… and I just told you I'm sorry again.

I am so pissed at Thomas, I can't even- I don't even know how to articulate it. You would, I know you would. Maybe I'll adopt the nickname Jeffershit. I don't want him to hate you more, though, for me using your nickname. Let's go with Jeffersin. ( thatrandomravenclaw)

I'm not talking to him. I would beat his ass, but to tell you the truth, I think it hurts him more to be ignored so I will ignore his entire existence with my entire being. Or at least with me. Maybe someone else should beat him up. I'd applaud that.

Anyway, I'm really sorry. I know whatever he said was either bullshit or very skewed truth, so I'm sorry.

Sending prayers,

James.

Lottery tickets, coffee packets, condensed milk,a secret recipe, a water heater deemed sanitary.

ALEX, WE MISS YOU

I heard from Daniela. I don't know where she heard it from, it's always "some little birdy", but I had to write to you, and when word got around, so did everyone else. We love you. We all miss you, the community mourns your absence, and prays for your presence to return.

That was Sonny. I didn't know he was so eloquent, but that's my boyfriend for you! I never knew you that well, but I hope you get better. I hear you're like a wonderman. -Pete

When you wake up, anything you want is free man. I haven't forgotten you. No one has, no one will. Don't forget yourself, because I know you think your defining trait is that you're smart. You are, but that's not it. It's that you're strong. Don't forget it.

-Your cousin something or other (is is half, or once removed, or…?)

Usnavi

My boyfriend is going crazy over you and he already never relaxes. We miss you, going to college and all that whiz kid stuff. Stay a whiz, not a ghost.

-Vanessa

You would give me help with my homework, you would help me review and play chess with me (winning every time). You taught me to manage my time, my work, and my school work, you helped me do so much and so now here I am, coming back just to sign this letter to you and I'm not going back to Stanford, missed classes or no, until you wake up, even if I miss my finals for the new college term. I hope this letter helps you live.

-Nina.

Guess I spread the word more than I thought because damn, there are a lot of signatures on the back of this thing. Just shows we care.

-Daniela

PLEASE GET WELL

-Benny -Carla -Mrs. Murphy -Mr. Heere -Kevin -Camila -Yesenia -José -Julio -Martha

Photo album, graduation cap, worn thread bracelet, box of dark chocolate with stars

Son,

I know you hate it when I call you my son, but that's what you are to me. Not only because I adopted you legally but because I adopted you into my heart. Son, you've stuck it out through thick and thin, you are determined to make your mark on the world to shape it into something better than it is now.

I have resigned myself to simply stepping back and letting you change the world because I know that's what you'll do. I know that greatness lies in you.

More than that, greatness fights and thrives in you. I didn't know it at the time, but the day you found me was the most monumental day of my life, even bigger than my wedding or my own first child because really, you were my first child.

You've fought depression, heartbreak, death and horrific nightmares, everyday you've struggled with the ghosts of your past and even after every time you've tried to use suicide to escape them you were still here. You are still here. And you somehow managed to be happy.

To overcome something as big as that, even if you're still weeding out the damaging roots, to learn to live and be happy is a miracle.

You are a miracle. Keep shining your miraculous light.

-Your Father,

George Washington.