I WROTE LIKE TODAY was my last, my quill running over the parchment happily. Sure, I, Alexander Hamilton, knew that I wasn’t running out of time, but I liked to think it was like such; it got me working.

I received with great Pleasure, My Dear Laurens, the letter which you wrote me in last.

The words bled from the tip of my quill so easily, my mind racing to find new ones, trying to explain to my dearest that he would remain mine even if I was married with a child.

Your wishes in one respect are gratified; this state has pretty unanimously delegated me to Congress. My time of service commences in November.

I remembered giddily when I was appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress on the twenty-second of July of this year. I was so happy, overjoyed, and I couldn’t wait to tell my lover of the news.

It is not probable it will result in what you mention. I hope it is too late. We have great reason to flatter ourselves peace on our own terms is upon the carpet. The making it is in good hands. It is said your father is exchanged for Cornwallis and gone to Paris to meet the other commissioners and that Grenville on the part of England has made a second trip there, in the last instance, vested with Plenipotentiary powers.
I fear there may be obstacles but I hope they may be surmounted.

We both had a fear of obstacles; we knew them well. Throughout the little time that we were able to be together, we’d try and spend most of it alone, where we could exchange kisses and sweet-nothings. The letters, no matter how passionate, weren’t enough. They did not meet the satisfaction of hearing the other’s voice, of feeling their skin against yours, of having their lips pressed against their own. But they were enough to keep us from deserting the army to be together full-time.
Even if we were able to do these things behind closed doors, we still knew the possibility of getting caught. We’d nearly done so twice: the first time when Shrewsberry walked in on us kissing—but thankfully he didn’t turn us in—and when Enslin told the army of John being a sodomite, but Washington had stepped up in his defense. These were like rocky mountains in the middle of an otherwise flat path, hard to cross, hard to forget.
But sometimes I liked to believe that we handled those obstacles well. Looking back on it I wasn’t so sure.

Peace made, My Dear friend, a new scene opens. The object then will be to make our independence a blessing. To do this we must secure our union on solid foundations; an herculean task and to effect which mountains of prejudice must be levelled.
It requires all the virtue and all the abilities of the Country. Quit your sword my friend, put on the toga, come to Congress. We know each others sentiments, our views are the same: we have fought side by side to make America free, let us hand in hand struggle to make her happy.
Remember me to General Greene with all the warmth of a sincere attachment.
Yrs for ever
A Hamilton

I reviewed what I had written with a smile on my face. Yes, that would do it, that would convince him to quit this war and join me in Congress. Not only would he be a vital political ally, but we’d also be able to steal more time together and no one would grow suspicious.
Little did I know that I would never receive a reply.