" Pocahontas, you have a letter," Anne said as she walked in the room. Anne handed the letter to Pocahontas. She silently read the letter and with a sigh of relief placed it near her heart. " Oh, I am so grateful. It has been nearly eight months since I have seen John and now he will be back for me with in a month." Pocahontas' joy was shattered by coughing fit. " You must rest, you are already pale and weak," Anne commanded. A look of sorrow clouded over Pocahontas's face, " I can not leave yet, my people are still at stake." " But your health and your child," Anne brought forth. " I must do this for my people and John must not know yet about the child being his." With a confused and horrified look Anne questioned her," but why not tell him, he is the father." " Because he would take me away too soon and my people would pay the price. We must wait a little longer. I must protect my people even if I have to pay with my life. Tears now flowed over her face and Anne crossed the room and cradled her with comfort as she wept.
Nine months had come and gone since John had seen his beloved. He once again entered her room. Pocahontas had been lying quietly caressing the distinct movement in her stomach. The feeling was strange and wonderful to her, she had put her hand on her belly and felt the child kick. It was alive and strong and with every day that passed more love grew with in her heart, replacing the anguish that had once lived there. " Not too much longer little one," she spoke. She heard the garden doors open and at once knew who it was John. Pocahontas grabbed the covers over her body and shielded the round shape of her belly. She could now see his face and to her it was the most wonderful she had ever seen. John reached the bed and bent to her. He pulled her into his arms and placed a soft kiss to her mouth. Pocahontas had missed this, his touch, his tenderness so she instinctively surrendered to him. When they broke from kiss, John said simply to her " I know." Pocahontas suddenly thought that Dr. Ludlow or Anne had told him about the child. The doctor was his friend and he might think that a man had the right to know that a woman was to bear his child. With out thinking she touched belly, feeling the kicks. " Pocahontas I know of your illness, the doctor contacted me through Thomas. We will work through it and get you back home so you will be well again and we can start our new life," John explained. He sat down on the bed and took her hand. He then saw that the other rested below the covers. Looking at her now he saw the exquisite curve of her swelling belly, hidden under the covers. He was unable to hide the astonishment in his voice; " You are with child." For an instant she wished she could deny it, but the she spoke, " Yes." His face then twisted in bitterness. " Rolfe's child. You risk yourself for his child." Pocahontas nodded to him, not wanting to lie to him in words. John stood and walked to the garden door, then stopped." It makes no difference to me. I still love you and we will leave this place together. You are sick and your husband is never around. We must not lose faith, I did that once and I almost ended it all, and then I would never have known our love still lived. I promised you, I promised myself we would have a life together and I still intend on having that. We must leave at once." She thought if he only knew that they did have a new life together, a precious new life. " Pocahontas, you are the first woman and the only I have ever loved and will not give you up I will never give us up. Nothing matters any more, you are sick and life ruined, but I still and always will love you." " John, I can not leave now." A stricken look now settled over John's face. " But why." " My people. I must stay longer for my people," tears now ran down her face. " If you stay any longer you will die, I could not live any more if that happens. Come with me now Pocahontas, live. " I can not, for my people are worth my life. Just remember I love you beyond death and our love is our legacy. " "Pocahontas, I will wait forever for you but, I must leave, I can't stand to see your pain in this marriage and you risking your life, choosing sickness. If I stay here I would be tempted to take you back home, so I will leave here in order to respect your wishes and for the lives of your people. I will stay in contact with you, so you will be able to contact me when you are ready to leave, may that be forever or tomorrow. I will always love you till the day I die. With his own tears and that said, John ran from the room into the night. Pocahontas wept.
****(Authors note Background on Anne) I talk about a character named Anne, and how she and Pocahontas are similar. To make this connection better Anne, is a foreigner like Pocahontas and is not treated with respect because of this fact (like Pocahontas). Anne is an older, but young enough to sill have the same emotions and thinking as Pocahontas. The biggest similarity would be in love. Anne and her husband were from different classes, Ann poor, Husband rich. Instead of marrying a boy of her class and of the family's choosing, Ann married and left her family for the man she loved. Anne understands sacrifice for love and that is why she chooses to help Pocahontas. Anne is also with child, but she is many months ahead of Pocahontas. This helps, by giving Pocahontas's child someone who could provide milk for her child if she needs it. **** (Note) You may ask yourself why is Pocahontas married and sleeps in her own room? Well back during this time and up to the mid nineteenth century married couples slept in different rooms. Another question may be were is Rolfe? Well he is now rich from tabbacco and has to go to different places (ports/ buying markets) to check on his profits. He also takes a trip to see his father in another part of England. The rest of the time he is just gone, which is also causing Pocahontas pain. For the birth, Pocahontas has encouraged him to stay/ spend time at his father's house far away. She knows about what time period she is to give birth so she comes up with this to get him away. She also writes to John and tells him of the times when Rolfe leaves her. This is how John knows when to send her the letter announcing his arrival and when he will meet with her. ****(Note) Location? I have chosen to make Pocahontas live a little outside of the city, (think of it as a suburb) so it is close enough to the city to get help and escape. But is away enough that time can pass (i.e. minutes/ hours). ****(Note) Dr. Ludlow. When John returned to England, the doctor treated him and they became friends. John also tells him of his relationship with Pocahontas. John had told Thomas of this and were the doctor does his practice. So when Pocahontas has her attack, Thomas gets the only doctor he knows of. This is also good because it gives Pocahontas another person in her corner.