Hurts Like Hell | John Laurens

Vingt Quatre

Philip's Pov

I shakily raise my pistol to the sky, in hope Eacker doesn't fire. I watch him put his finger on the trigger and close my eyes and wait for the bullet to pierce my skin. 

*BANG*

I don't feel any pain, but instead I see a body fall limp in front of me. I rush to their side and see who it is. Tears spring from my eyes, 

"Frances!" I shout, "Frances no!" I pick her up and her body is limp in my arms. The doctor comes up to us. 

"Mr Hamilton do you know this woman?" The medic asks. 

"Y-Yes. This is Frances Laurens. My best friend." I sob. 

"We need to get her back to New York." 

... 

My parents, as well as Frances' are sent for. Mine are the first to arrive. 

"Philip!" Mother says and runs up to me, "You had me worried sick! Your father told me about the duel. Why would you resort to such a-" 

"Mom..." 

My mother sighs, "Yes sweetie?" 

"Frances..." 

"What's wrong with her dear?" 

"She saved me." 

"What?" Both my parents say. 

"She jumped in front of me and the bullet hit her." 

"No..." Father says. 

Just then, Toni and John rush in. 

"Where's my baby!?" John says. 

"Mr Laurens, come in. They brought her in a half an hour ago, she lost a lot of blood-" 

"Is she alive!?" Toni cries. 

"Yes, but you have to understand the bullet lodged in her left shoulder." 

"Can we see her please?" John says. 

"I'm doing everything I can." 

Her parents rush into the room she's being held in. 

"Have you seen her?" 

I shake my head, "This is all my fault. If I had listened to her and tried to stop the duel... she'd be okay." 

"Honey, this is not your fault." Mom says. 

"Son, Eacker would not have let you back down from the duel." 

"I-I know but I shouldn't have told her about it. She would be okay..." 

"And you would be in her position." 

"I know... But I love her. I can't loose her." 

My parents hug me, "You won't. She'll be alright." 

Even though my parents assure me this isn't my fault, I know that if I wouldn't have told her about the duel, or if I tried to settle the feud with Eacker, she would be okay. She would be peacefully asleep in her bed. And not clinging onto life right now.