The cool, crisp fall breeze blew gently through the open kitchen window as you washed the dishes from lunch, humming softly to yourself. Just a month ago, the long, bloody war between the 13 Colonies and Great Britain had ended, with the colonies coming out victorious and forming a new nation; The United States of America. Everyone rejoiced when the news came, old and young, sick and healthy, slave and free. You lived as a servant under your Master and Mistress, Benjamin and Martha Edes. They were good to you, and treated you as if you weren't a slave. All was well, but one thing kept nagging at your mind; Nathaniel Wheeler. He was a kind-hearted boy who had come from the countryside in Uxbridge as an apprentice to Master Edes, to learn how to print. He was fourteen when he had first come, and taken a liking to you quickly. The two of you grew to be friends rather quickly, to the delight of Mrs. Edes. Nathaniel was a young man when the war broke out, just twenty one. He ended his apprenticeship with Master Edes early to enlist in the Continental Army. At first, he sent letters often, but as the war progressed, his letters became fewer, until he stopped sending them altogether. You had grown worried for your friend. You could barely imagine what his mother must have felt like at the time. It would be horrible to lose such a kind-hearted young man to the horrible war. After the war ended, you clung to the hope that he'd come home safe and sound. After three weeks and still no sign of him, you grew even more worried. But you rationalized it to yourself. Maybe he was visiting his mother. It was now October, and Nathaniel still hadn't come home. You were beginning to think you'd never see him again. But as you dried the last dish, a knock on the door came. Your heart leapt into your throat. Mrs. Edes looked up from her sewing, her warm eyes brightening. She nodded towards you.

"Go ahead, dear.."

She said, smiling gently at you.