??????'? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? Thomas J.

WHEN THE WORDS FELL FROM HIS LIPS, Eloise's heart both fluttered and dropped. I'd tell you what she was thinking but- I'll let her tell it.

"Can I take it back? Take you back to 1785. The revolution was upon us, men were lining up to die. I was Eighteen. Can you imagine being Eighteen, head over heels for a man already on the adult scene?" She explains, pacing the stage.

"What it was about Mr. Jefferson I'll never know, but his charm and his eyes spoke a language of their own. He was beautiful, that I knew, but America wasn't enough for him, he needed something new." She smiles, turning as Thomas comes up beside her, way back in 17 85

"Mr. Jefferson." She says, smiling weakly and curtsying. There's a tension in the air between the two, and we can infer that Eloise's feelings towards Mr. Jefferson at the time are not unreciprocated.

"Ms. Washington." He greets, kissing her hand in a much more than platonic way as his eyes stay locked with hers.

"How are you?" She asks, attempting to collect herself.

"Well, I'm leaving for France tomorrow." He reminds both himself and her.

"I know." She almost whispers.

"Ms. Washington please don't be sorrowed. I'll be back before you know it." He promises.

"5 years is a hell of a long time, Mr. Jefferson."  Eloise shakes her head.

"I'll only be an ocean away." At these words Eloise swears she hears a sort of choir repeating them. 

"An ocean away." The choir sings.

"But do you have to be an ocean away?" She pleads.

"You know I have to go." He shakes his head. 

"You could stay. The revolution is upon us. You could fight, you could win, Thomas." She says his name in a harsh whisper, almost like its forbidden. She steps forward and takes his hand in her own.

"Eloise, you know I have to go. It's for the good of our country." He shakes his head.

"I'm so god damn tired of doing things for the good of our country." There's anger in her voice.

"Please breathe, Eloise, you won't even know I'm gone, you won't even miss me." He smiles, laying his other hand on the side of her face.

"Of course I'll miss you, what do you mean?" She asks, shaking her head a little.

"Eloise... can you make me a promise?" He practically begs.

"Whatever you want, Thomas." Eloise agrees.

"Don't waste these next 5 years."

"What do you mean?" She asks, her eyebrows knitting together.

"Don't waste time on tears."

"I don't understand." She shakes her head.

"Don't write." He says, and she takes it like a shot to the chest.

"What do you mean don't write?" She says, tears forming in her eyes.

"Don't write me a single letter, I won't reply." He smiles, but there's no actual joy behind it.

"Why- why are you doing this to us?" She asks desperately, her voice breaking.

"Don't wait, don't wait for me." Thomas says, taking his hand back from her face and drawing it back to his side. "When I come back you'll be 23. Then if its meant to be, then you'll be with me."

"Thomas-"

"Just promise. Just say that you promise."

"I promise." The words leave her lips in a whisper again, their faces close now.