September 22, 1750 Dear Diary, So from what mother said, father is getting brought back because he found out the people that attacked him were the King’s guards. We found out that anyone who walks on that road gets attacked because the cowboys think the guards think they are going to see the King even if they are not. Mother’s brothers finally made it down and they went into my room that is supposedly now theirs… but I walked in there and they were sitting at the table I have in there. They were talking about burning the house down and taking all of our weapons and stealing all the money. I ran and told mother and she didn't believe me. My father and I have always hated mother’s side of the family.                      Love,                      Susey.

         September 21, 1750 Dear Diary, We just heard word from father, he got attacked by the people that were following him. He thinks that it was the cowboys, but we don't know yet. I just talked to mother and she said her brothers are on their way down. I'm really mad about that because they are not nice. They treat my mother really nicely, but they treat me like I’m in the army with them, but I'm not!! So anyways, I am in charge of making dinner tonight. Then mother out of the blue told me I have to give up my room for her brothers!! My life is horrible!!                      Susey

Dear Diary, July 15, 1776 Hello today I heard Father and my two brothers fighting and one said “I am leaving and never coming back, and I hope that the colonist will win. We will have freedom, independence, and no more taxation.” Then Father said, “Oh please you will never win because you are weak.” They never get along any way because Father is loyal to King George III, but Mother doesn't know that Father and my two brothers fight when she is not home. Father will never tell Mother that they fight and they won't either. Sincerely, Sofia

Dear Diary, March 15, 1770 Today Father hit Mother with a bible because mom let Tom fight in the war. Then Tom went to the tavern and told everybody that he was going to the war everybody said “NO YOU WILL DIE THERE.” they said. Then Tom said he does not care because he wants liberty for his family. Then they were talking in the tavern all night they were talking so loud I couldn’t even sleep. I heard what they were saying but, I couldn’t really make it out. Love, Jennifer Revere

         September 20, 1750 Dear Diary, So, today my father is leaving and he is wanting to go see and talk to the King. On top of father leaving, mother is talking her brothers into coming down for the week. I hate my uncles because they treat me like I’m a 2 year old and that makes me feel dumb. So my week is going to be horrible. Oh and did I mention, mother’s brothers are fighting in the Continental Army. So that makes them extra mean. Oh I just got a letter from father, it said he is almost there and he thinks that someone is following him. But I'm not too worried about that. I know that father can stand up for himself. But on the good side we are having stew tonight, and I LOVE mother’s stew!!                       Love,                     Susey.

Islas Malvinas 26/05/1982 Queridos papá y mamá: Please forgive me for not writing to you since last week, but communication is very bad in the islands. I was told that letters are sent nor received in the islands. But I will try. Yes, I received the telegram from the 18th. I still do not know when I will be able to go back home. The war is no longer to be finish. It is only starting. I imagine that I being here is not ideal, but I am safe. I must warn that it is certain that the ingleses are getting closer and closer, however in my puesto de combate, there have not been any visits, and expect that there won’t be any time soon. Lately I have been praying and asking the Virgen for us to have some peace and finally stop battling against the ingleses. As the days go by, homesickness, the desire of returning home to our normal routine increases. It does not matter anymore if we lose or win anymore. The Argentine soldiers are tired. Since the beginning, we did not had enough training nor preparation for the conditions of this war. In the end, we are just miserable men fighting for a piece of useless land that already belongs to Argentina. Here in las Islas Malvinas, the weather is rough and windy, the landscape is irregular and rocky. There is no trees, only small bushes to hide behind. All these factors make transportation and accommodation difficult. Anyways, I expect to arrive before than this letter does, but I will stop worrying about this. Well, nothing else. Hugs and kisses for both. I always have you in my thoughts. Los quiero mucho. Chau, José Luis

July, 4 -1776 Dear Family, I have seen a lot of amazing things over the last couple of years that I would like to tell you about. When they first recruited me, I wasn’t on the front line, but this battle I was. I got to see everything that happened except the person who shot first. When the Lobsterbacks showed up it, seemed like there was 1,000,000 of them, but we had a better fighting position. Right before the war started a commander from the 43rd Regiment came to get me to fight on the North Bridge. After we shot a couple volleys, the British retreated. We did not pursue the Redcoats because we didn't want to be tired for the battle at Boston. Some of the other minutemen were surrounding Boston or at Breed’s Hill, but I was at Bunker Hill. We demolished the British. I hope this letter comforts you and now you know what I have seen over the last couple of years. Sincerely, Jacob Snickers

April 9,1772, Dear Taden Graves, I am waiting till April 11,1772, for the five mile walk to Boston to ambush the Colonists, through the trees, swamp,and the cold weather, that is 21 degrees. Our guns and ammo are loaded and ready to fire. We have guns that can shoot as far as 20 miles. We have 8,000 guns and 500 pounds of gunpowder. I wondered if the Colonists were ready to fire? They have 13 canons. We have 15 cannot,but theirs have more power and can,shoot farther. Wars are scary when friends and family die in our eye sight.Camp is boring and tiring.I have to get the water for the GernaI. I have to walk a half a mile to get the water at a spring. But there's a valley with moist ground all day long no matter what the temperature is.There is about 7,000 men on the British side and 6,000 on the Colonists.I think most of the men are scared like me but their are brave soldier’s too. I’m a soldier and have a musket. When I see a soldier,I am not afraid to shoot him. Sincerely, Francis

                   April 20,1775 Dear family, I just wanted to tell you that I am alive and what has been going on since I left. The Battle of Lexington and Concord started on April 19, 1775, against 700 British troops. It seemed like there were thousands of them but, there were only 700. No more and no less. So far we are winning the battle. I actually just figured out that this all started three weeks after Patrick Henry delivered his famous words “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”. Not too long from now, we are going to be fighting the Revolutionary War. On the night of April 18, 1775, hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize all of the guns and ammo. Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm. All of this started in 1764. On April 18,1775, Joseph Warren learned from a source inside the British high command that redcoat troops would march that night to Concord. Hope to see you soon.                        Sincerely,                      Paul Collins

                      April 20,1775 Dear My Love, Life in the British camp is harsh.we are low on food. We do not get as much pay as we do back in London.It seems like nobody likes the British in the colonies only a few colonies do. In the battle of concord and Lexington, I was one of the few soldiers that survived.The food here is not as good back home. All we get is fresh meat from cows we kill, bad soup, and rotten bread. During my first few days at the colonies I was at Boston working at a barber shop and I saw someone that looks just like you! I will be coming back in one month because I was shot in the arm.But I also bring you bad news. Your brother, John, was shot in the back during the retreat in the battle of concord and Lexington and his son is being held captive by the Patriots. After the battle of Concord and Lexington, I was promoted to general. When I get home I wish to continue our wedding plans and have time to be with Lydia. After this war is over I have plans for us to move to Georgia. It is a very nice place because I have been there.There are lots of room for her to play.And make friends. We could get nice jobs there like you could work at the barber shop and I could work at the shipyards. love your to be husband

Islas Malvinas 26/05/1982 Queridos papá y mamá: Please forgive me for not writing to you since last week, but communication is very bad in the islands. I was told that letters are sent nor received in the islands. But I will try. Yes, I received the telegram from the 18th. I still do not know when I will be able to go back home. The war is no longer to be finish. It is only starting. I imagine that I being here is not ideal, but I am safe. I must warn that it is certain that the ingleses are getting closer and closer, however in my puesto de combate, there have not been any visits, and expect that there won’t be any time soon. Lately I have been praying and asking the Virgen for us to have some peace and finally stop battling against the ingleses. As the days go by, homesickness, the desire of returning home to our normal routine increases. It does not matter anymore if we lose or win anymore. The Argentine soldiers are tired. Since the beginning, we did not had enough training nor preparation for the conditions of this war. In the end, we are just miserable men fighting for a piece of useless land that already belongs to Argentina. Here in las Islas Malvinas, the weather is rough and windy, the landscape is irregular and rocky. There is no trees, only small bushes to hide behind. All these factors make transportation and accommodation difficult. Anyways, I expect to arrive before than this letter does, but I will stop worrying about this. Well, nothing else. Hugs and kisses for both. I always have you in my thoughts. Los quiero mucho. Adiós, José Luis

Dear Jean, It is with deep regret and despair that I write this letter to you. We have lost the battle and the Japanese have now imprisoned us. I am now a prisoner of war along with all my friends and fellow soldiers. It is evident that the worst is yet to come. I am being treated with no respect but like a pig. I have to work all day until my bones get weak and my clothes get drowned in sweat. Life is no easy task and I feel like my body is just going to give up one day. The suffering I have witnessed everyday is disgusting. You could call it hell for all we know. My love, I only wish that I could return to your arms one day but it seems unlikely. I will keep hoping for the best. Your husband, Albert

Dear mom and dad, We stood no chance against the Japanese but fortunately when all hope seemed lost, the 2/19th A.I.B had arrived to fight through the strong enemy lines. The 2/19th provided us with a safely retreat path. Without them, we would still be stuck in battle and tasting death. We soon replenished our battalion with a vital addition of fresh and new 500 soldiers, but the Japanese forces were like a train determined to get to it's location and will run over anyone or anything that tries to get in it's path. Our attacks were futile and the predators had finally caught their prey. Hope now seemed like reaching for a needle in a haystack.

Dear Jean, I hope you are well and happy. I miss you so much and being far apart separated by miles of sea sometimes hits home. My battalion has finally landed after days of sea and no land. We have made our way to the Muar river and you could hear the deafening sounds of whizzing bullets. There is a smell of death in the air. The Indian brigade and the 2/4th Anti-Tank Regiment are helping us and we have managed to destroyed many of their tanks. Many our comrades have fallen as the Japanese are relentless and we have not been able to stop them. I wish that you did not have to here about this but I have injured my left leg from a bullet and I am forced to limp. So are the consequences of war, There is not a day that passes by that I don't think of you and I hope I will have the opportunity to see your face again, Albert

Dear Jean, I hope you are well and happy. I miss you so much and being far apart separated by miles of sea sometimes hits home. My battalion has finally landed after days of sea and no land. We have made our way to the Muar river and you could hear the deafening sounds of whizzing bullets. There is a smell of death in the air. The Indian brigade and the 2/4th Anti-Tank Regiment are helping us and we have managed to destroyed many of their tanks. Many our comrades have fallen as the Japanese are relentless and we have not been able to stop them. I wish that you did not have to here about this but I have injured my left leg from a bullet and I am forced to limp. So are the consequences of war, There is not a day that passes by that I don't think of you and I hope I will have the opportunity to see your face again, Your love, Albert

May 13, 1774 United Kingdom Dear Thomas Gage, I thought I would tell you why I want you to be the governor of Massachusetts. One reason why I want you to be the governor of Massachusetts is because you have commanded all the British forces in North America. So that tells me that if something big happens then you will be able to handle it on your own. Nest you have been the army, so if we get attacked you will be able to help out with that.Then, you have been the governor of Montreal, so you have had experience in the governor business. Another reason why I want you to be the governor of Massachusetts is because you have done so much to get a bigger an better job. Some things you have done is you have been a military governor (in charge of the militia), you were clever enough to distinguish yourself, and you have convinced me about the private letters. You were very persuading when you talked to me. So I am glad you might be the governor of Massachusetts. Hope you do well.

3/11/1780 Dear Diary, Day 3. Today is Wednesday and it is a beautiful day. At school we went outside to play and the flowers were blooming and the grass was green. My mom and dad are working at the market again. After we got that money my parents were not arguing as much. We have enough money to bring my brothers home for 2 weeks. Than we payed for our dept and we lived like we were in a dream. My birthday is in two weeks and I will be turning 15. Today I went fishing for dinner and caught six bass and 3 catfish and we cooked it on the fire and I loved it.

3/10/1780 Dear Diary, Day 2. Today is Tuesday and today at school it was raining so hard part of the rooftop leaked so bad we had to tie blankets to the roof so we could not be soaked as bad. My parents are out selling items at the market for a little money to pay for food. We never get much money and we are trying to pay for dept. I am sick as I’m writing this. Dr. Garrett said I have a little cold and it should go away after a while. I was sitting down when my parents came on the carriage when they said we just sold a candle that was really rare and got $345! I was speechless. And at that moment it was the best moment of my life.

Dear friends, I apologize for my delayed answer to your kind words and gestures toward me and my wife. The truth is Nebula disappeared a few days after the wedding for never coming back. While I thought she needed some time to be alone and to settle for a decision regarding her Mother's fate, it appears she was fighting her own demons. Lady Jancis could trail her within the Shrouds and it's clear to me now that she was lost, seeking for some answers through the gaze of the Twelves and the Sylphs. I don't know exactly what happened. I can only talk about what some people confusedly reported : It seems she fought some witch and lost against her. I do think it's possible she was wrestling with a part of herself we both thought long gone. It looks like something broke within her at this time. She seemed to have no longer been able to see the reality as it was but somehow twisted by some malicious enchantment. I believe she might have been sure that the witch killed our children and began to follow the path opened by those long gone from her family. Thinking of our children being dead, hearing the voices of her deceased Mother and Grandmother, she threw herself from a cliff close to Menphina's sacred stone. I will no longer hear the sound of her laugh, see her smile or wake up bathed by her breathing and it took me some time to only manage to sit down at this table to write those few words. Accepting the reality of what happened is hard for me. While a part of me is still seeking for her presence and expects her to suddenly appear and to ask for some fish for the dinner, I know that I need to find in myself and with the help of my friends, the will to move on and to keep the only promise Nebula ever asked from me : "Keep living for the sake of our children no matter what might happen to me." Some days ago, maybe more than a week now, some Elezen took me to the Coerthas, saying that my presence was requested there. This is where I learned the truth.. But also where I found my children. Alive. I am unsure of what exactly happened as the shock of being fully conscious of Nebbs disappearance stopped me from hearing or even thinking, but I believe they were saved from the cold by those people who might have look for me since then. While the Twins are healthy, thanks to those Elezens' care, they are only seven months and while we were slowly introducing some new sort of food to them, Nebula was still breast-feeding them. For now, my own sister, Mavra, who will give birth soon is giving to them the milk they need, but we need some help on this side as she won't be able to feed three children real soon. Carina talked to me about some herbs and alchemical process which would help any woman to produce some milk. While she is sure that her own mother knew how to do make such a drug herself, her knowledge is now long gone, taken away by what happened to Limsa Lominsa during the Calamity. I request your help. If you know someone who would be able to produce this medicine for us, Carina is willing to be the one who will feed my children until they can be weaned properly while respecting their pace. After thinking over this for days, I believe this would be the best solution for the welfare of my children. For my children and for Nebula's memory, please, help us. Ilwe'ran Hlaiwa

Estimada princesa, Antes de que platiquemos hoy, te quiero contar una historia. En noviembre del 2013 conocí a una mujer que vendría a cambiarme la vida de la manera más genial. Esta mujer me cautivó con su belleza, su gentil trato y su inteligencia. Por las circunstancias en que nos veíamos, era muy difícil para mí expresar mi atracción y mis fuertes deseos por estar con ella. De hecho, ni yo mismo lo quería aceptar. Pero al mismo tiempo, yo me encontraba en las tardes, inventando excusas para que ella se quedara más tarde conmigo y para llevarla a su casa. Al poco tiempo se me hizo muy obvio que eran inútiles mis esfuerzos de bloquearla de mi mente, porque le encantaba dar vueltas en ella. Día y noche. Yo despertaba con gran motivación por llegar a mi trabajo porque la vería, la saludaría, pasaría tiempo con ella, almorzaría con ella, me quedaría con ella más tiempo. Dormía con el ansia de que en unas horas, estaría con ella de nuevo. Cuando la dejaba en su casa, yo sentía esta urgencia demente por regresar a mi trabajo para continuar mis pláticas con ella. Cuando llegaban por ella, yo contaba los minutos para que ella llegara a su casa y continuara nuestra interacción.

Dearest Nettie, It almost as hot and muggy here as back home! Monday, I moved Olivia into the women’s housing. She already made a friend. Her name Rosa - she sweet like cherry pie. DC’s flowers even nicer than down south. I can smell them as we walk round campus. She just started on Monday. She so happy. Even though I’m old and tired now, she teach me everything she learn in them classes. I’m telling you Nettie, us got a real smart lady. She’s gonna be a great teacher one day like you. Every day while Olivia be in her classes, I been readin up in the library. I’ve learned all sort of things - from philosophy to astronomy. I even read up more on the history of slaves back home and all round the world. You ever hear of a fella named Toussaint L’overture? He colored but led a whole slave revolution in Haiti! Imagine that, Nettie - colored people leading the way. Got me thinking. I never realized how little people know back home. Most people I know never even finish primary school. Think about it.Does our town even have a high school? Much less for colored girls like me and you. Most people just work all they lives. Me and you could really get something going, Nettie. The colored folks up here a different breed. They ain’t content with working on the fields. Some never even known someone who worked on the fields. These some real smart folk, and rich too. They want change. I never realized how bad we living back home. There’s a whole different side to the colored experience. Ain’t nobody back home want change. Your sister, Celie

March 16, 1776 I am behind General Garrett’s house, and I think they’re having a meeting. I thought I heard Dustin and Austin’s voice, but they are on two different militias. Two militias would meet only under dire circumstances. After the meeting was over, I strolled into the house. It was a big house, worth at least a couple thousand. After General Garrett noticed me, he said these few words,”We need to talk.”

March 15, 1776 It is the night before we move out, and I plan to sneak away. I already have a sack of supplies including some food, water, flint-and-steel, etc. I don’t know where I am going to go, but I know I will find some place. I plan on leaving at 1:00, and will try to get as far as possible. I think I might go to General Garrett's house and see where I should go from there. That would be a six mile hike through the field and up the road. It will be even harder with all of the soldiers around, but I think I can manage. Until then.

March 11, 1776 Many Patriots have come to town, and Dad is fed up with it. He says there has been too much secrecy, and we need to move immediately.Mom and I don’t want to move. I haven’t told my brothers, Fredric, Dustin, or Austin yet, and I don’t think they will be very happy when they find out.

March 5, 1776 It has been six years since the Boston Massacre. The Patriots are close to winning, and the British are paying dearly for what they did. Even though the British have a better military, we seem to be holding them off. I think that the Patriots will win, but my dad thinks otherwise. He said he is embarrassed to think that his family is un-loyal to the king, especially in front of his loyalist friends. I know it is a sin to not obey your parents, but it just feels right. Not only is he embarrassed, he is punishing the whole family for it. I don’t think it is right because we are just standing up for our beliefs just like he is.

March 2, 1776 My name is Timothy Blake, and I am 13. This is my first journal entry. I have much to say and not much time to say it. My dad is already mad at me for asking for the journal. He says it is a waste of time. When he gave me money to go to market, I had a little left over, and I bet you can guess what I spent it on. There are many British patrols in town and more are coming in. I have a pretty good guess as to why they are coming, but I can’t be positive. I have heard of wars in near-by towns, but none that are really close to us. That’s all I can say right now. Until next time.

3/9/1780 Dear Diary, Day 1. My name is Johannes Williams and I’m 14 years old. And my family is torn apart because my brothers are fighting in the Continental War. My mother Beth is on the colonists side and my father James is loyal to the king. I believe Colonies should have the right for independence. My life is horrible right now because we are not getting enough food because my parents are fighting to much and don’t have time to work for more money. Our house is a log cabin and the insolation is mud splashed on it. So far I haven't seen both my brothers in 3 months. My mom is trying to convince me to go on the colonists side. My dad is also trying to get me to be loyal to the king. And my brothers are trying to get me to go into the Continental war to fight. So as that happens my brothers and my mom and dad argue and I hate when they argue. We don’t have enough money to pay for dept so we only have one week left of our rent and we will get kicked out.

Dear Diary, 21, Day 3: That morning we heard gunshots outside our window. Mom looked outside to see what it was and there stood hundreds of Patriots. In the front line was my brothers. They smiled at me and mom, and then gave dad an unpleasant look. Dad went over to him and started yelling, “ Why are you betraying us, me, your country!” “ Well, when you put it that way I do not really care about this country, you, nor should I care about your self-centered king!” Father went off into the house and threw the family Bible out of the window. It hit one of the Patriots and after he shut the window sill, we heard him yelling at himself or someone else. Mary Washinworth

Dear Diary, 20, Day 2: That morning my mom walked in crying, “ I have been fired from work.” She worked at a place that sews clothing for the Continental Army. “They said with all this arguing and the war they could not afford to pay me any more, but they let everyone else stay. They just don’t like the fact that I am against the king.” After we all ate breakfast, my brothers went back to camp. Father and mother kept arguing like they always do, but I’m used to it by now. I went to go read the Bible. My mother told me that she named me after Jesus’s mother, Mary, in the Bible. My brothers did not come back that night. Has the war begun? Mary Washinworth

Dear Diary, 19, Day 1: Life is so hard now that the American Revolutionary War has started, dad and mom fight a lot more. I just wish that this was a two-day war, not a war that lasted for months. Earlier this morning I was doing my chores when I heard dad yelling at my brothers who just came back from training from the war. “ You two are nothing to me anymore. I tried to keep you safe but you became traders to the king!” The boys said back, “ Well we want freedom not orders from some king who is nothing but a person and thinks that he has more power than us!” “ Well, he does have more power than you pathetic people who think that paying taxes is so bad.” We were really poor. My brothers and mom wanted to have independence from the king and not have to pay taxes.