The battle raged on in New York as the British tried to tame us and regain control, but the Revolutionaries were not having any of their "Heed us, or we'll kill you and your loved ones" crap. The British cannons boomed close by, and my three friends and I ducked for cover. I looked up from the trench only to be met by the business end of a bayonet.

      I held my ground as I raised my own gun to the man. Look him in the eye, aim no higher; summon all the require, then count, 1, 2, 3, fire! I thought, but before I could shoot, I felt a searing pain above my hip.

I looked over and saw another Loyalist aimed at me, musket smoking. I collapsed in the arms of my closest friend, John Laurens. "Alexander, are you alright?" he asked, bright eyes glistening with tears threatening to spill over and stain his perfect, freckle-graced face.

"Laurens, I guess I threw away my shot..." I chuckled.

He laughed a little, "Alexander, you'll make it, I promise."

"Laurens, if this to be the end of me, at least I have you, my friend with me." I began to feel faint. "John, if I die tonight, give all of my organs to those who need them, except my middle finger - give that to the King."

"You got it, man, but for now, let's just rest, okay? Just focus on my heartbeat. No one can hurt you now," he told me, pulling me close to him. " Just stay alive, for me."

I began weaving in and out of consciousness, "John, I don't want to die. Sometimes, I wish I'd never been born at all," I whimpered, bringing myself closer to him.

"Alex, don't talk like that, okay? You're gonna make it. You have to. I need you, Alexander. I love you."

"Laurens, there's no beat, no melody. This is nothing like I'd imagined. I see my mother on the other side. She's with my cousin on the other side. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now. Raise a glass to freedom!" I cried out, looking up at his face, now damp, cupping his face gently and pressing a small kiss on his lips as I fully passed into the other side.