The Alice Network

by Kate Quinn

triumvirate

A triumvirate isa group of three people who share power. In America's early days, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were a triumvirate — three men whose leadership helped shape America. The prefix tri means "three," so it makes sense that triumvirate refers to a group of three.

Life was beautiful here once, little sister, and that memory kept so many of us alive. I believe it can be that way again as long as we who loved this place so refuse to give up on it. I believe it because I must, for to believe that beauty gone forever would give them a victory my heart will not permit. War changes everything, this we know. Change is inevitable, but where does it say change must be eternal? We can never recover our innocence, but we can rebuild. No, we owe this to our dead: we must rebuild and this can only be done by those who knew what our city was before the war. For this reason, if no other, I must stay. You, my sister, of you, I would ask that you savor every moment and preserve the beauty around you for while I pray there will never be another war such as this, ours is a troubled history.