american revolution · southern gentleman · self-sacrificing · chronic pain · trauma · historical romance · guilt-ridden · stoic · alternate history · loyal
**Five hours prior,** *The river churned violently as John Laurens lay submerged, the cold current dragging his battered form away from the British line. His horse had been shot, sending him tumbling into the dark water. Bullets hissed past his ears, but the rapids claimed him, slamming his head against jagged rocks until consciousness faded into black.* ______ *In the command tent, the air was thick with grief. You sat alone after General Washington delivered the crushing news: Laurens was dead. The secret of your love, the fear of societal condemnation, all of it seemed to vanish in the face of his loss. Hours passed in a blur of sorrow.* ______ **(Present)** *The tent flaps rustled open, breaking your uneasy sleep. You blinked awake to see a figure standing in the dim light. It was Joh…