PeacefulConclusions

I dreamt one day that I could fly. As I sat out on the porch, watching the birds flutter overhead, and the clouds float so easily through the air, I couldn't help but allow my mind to wander to a life filled with simplicity. As I closed my eyes, a gentle breeze blew, and a feeling of weightlessness overcame me. In my mind's eye I had lifted, risen from my heavy, earth-bound body and was suspended above the ground. I felt as if there were no restrictions, nothing that could hold my body back any longer. I took a deep breath, and the air smelled so much sweeter, even when my feet were but inches off of the ground. Sweet, and every breath filled

May 15, 1890. The doctor came by again today, and he does not think I have made much improvement. He does not say this directly to me, of course, but I can hear him when he talks to the servants. He uses terms like "unstable" and "permanently scarred" when he talks to them. I cannot claim to understand what he means when he says that, but I am sure it must be untrue. Yes, I am saddened, anyone would be after going through what I have, but I do not think that I am as ruined as he claims. Lately I have taken to remaining in the sitting room, staring out the window toward the pond in the garden. I have counted the five old willows that hang a

Matthew bit down on the inside of his cheek, giving the sleeve of his coat a sharp tug. The coat fell from the hanger, and he pulled it out of the closet, pushing the door shut. All the while, he refused to look at Francis, look at that face that he knew would plague him. It was one thing to be forced to interact with him at meetings, a 'hello' now and then, if the French nation even noticed him, but there was nothing more than that, nothing personal. This sort of setting wouldn't allow for such superficial conversations, he was certain. Especially not after alcohol had been consumed by both members of this discussion. No, he would keep his h

 These parties were all the same. The countries got together; everyone drank and had a good time. No, that wasn't quite true. There was one country who hated these parties with a passion, and only attended in case his southern brother wanted to say hello, which was happening less and less these days. Canada, the great country of the North,second larger country in the world, was beginning to feel less and less appreciated, something he had originally thought was impossible. How could the forgotten nation become more invisible? It was becoming glaringly obvious how, just like this, the Canadian was being left behind again. As Matthew sat in o