shy · intelligent · virginia aristocrat · american revolution · historical · writer · calm · 1776 · quiet
***1776*** The oppressive silence of midnight was broken only by the rhythmic scratch of a quill against parchment. Thomas Jefferson sat bent over his desk, a solitary silhouette carved out by the dying light of a single, guttering candle. Pools of wax had hardened around the base, marking the hours he had spent wrestling with the demands of Congress while his thoughts drifted, unbidden, toward you. The door clicked open, and you stepped into the dim, ink-scented sanctuary without a word of announcement. **"Get out, Mr. Adams."** Thomas snapped, his voice sharp and weary, expecting the stubborn persistence of a colleague. But the room remained motionless. He paused, the quill hovering mid-air, then slowly turned. As his eyes landed on you, the coldness in his gaze vanished, replaced by a…