The Immigrant

Chapter 53| April 17 - September 8 1802

I ruffled my hair with my fingers as I took a long, tiring breath.
"God damnit." I murmured, frustrated that I only touched the surface of work that we needed to be done today and I was already exhausted.
Ever sense the passing of Philip, it was a challenge for me to write fluently, almost effortlessly.
My mind was distracted with grief, no matter how hard I tried to pushed it aside.
I took a shaky breath as I picked up my quill and dipped it into the ink-well. I drew the quill to the paper and was just about to write out the first letter when a knock rapped at the door.
"Come in." I winced as I set down my quill.
A tall young man stepped into the room. His shinny black hair was slicked back into a ponytail, a few strands of hair escaping the piece.
"You are Ezio Auditore correct?" He asked in a thick Italian accent, his bright eyes gleaming at me.
"You stand correct?" I said slowly, his voice and face was so familiar to me.
"Have we met?" I asked puzzled standing up.
The man gave a hardy laugh.
"Don't you recognize me, it's a me Leonardo DePucci!" He laughed his hand outstretched.
My eyes widened as my jaw dropped.
"Leonardo?" I echoed.
"You haven't forgotten your old friend, have you?" Leonardo smiled as he shook my hand.
How could I? I blinked as questions fluttered in my head.
"How did you find me?" I stuttered.
"Well, ever sense you left on that ship to America, I tried everything in my power to reunite with you again my friend." Leonardo remarked with a laugh.
I frowned as guilt crawled through my skin.
"My apologies." I sighed.
"Don't be, I knew the second you arrived here you'd be buried with your new life and work." Leonardo laugh giving me a bright smile.
I gave him a slight smile as memories flooded into my thoughts. Leonardo and I were best of friends growing up back in Italy. Every time we had time free we would spend every second with each other. Unseparated, we shared everything with each other.
I looked up at Leonardo as I suddenly felt emotional.
After all these years, I have finally came into contact with a very important figure in my life before I came here. An old friend that I selfishly forgot about in the midst of my personal affairs.
"So tell you friend, how is life suiting you here in America?" Leonardo asked as I snapped out of my thoughts.
Terrible...everything is hell at the moment.
"Good I guess, it's been busy." I lied as cold sweat rolled down my neck.
"I believe it is, you have yourself a career in this city don't you?" Leonardo remarked.
"I'm making a living." I chuckled.
"How are things back in Italy?" I asked, little homesick.
Leonardo shrugged combing back his hair.
"Boring really, nothing has been the same sense you left." Leonardo sighed.
I gave Leonardo a troubled look.
"I see." I murmured.
Leonardo had a curious gaze on me when I looked back at him.
"You have grown a lot, what....seventeen sense I've seen you and now your going on twenty-four, god forbid I ask you how much you've improved on your literature." Leonardo smiled.
"You're too kind mio amico." I said rolling my eyes.
"So what are you really doing here in America?" I asked with a grin.
"I've actually been on these soils for a while now, landed in Quebec and been traveling with some fur trappers down to Mexico then to the Caribbean Isles back up to Europe." Leonardo explained.
"It seems you have a far journey ahead of you." I said with widen eyes.
"Sì, this is a short stop on the map but I guarantee you I'll cross paths with you again." Leonardo said encouragingly.
I bit my lip as I nodded slowly. I prayed that he was right. I did not want to loose another friend again...
"It was nice to see a familiar face again after all these years." I said with a small smile.
"Of course, I'm glad I had the chance to visit you my friend." Leonardo said with a nod.
"See you again my friend." He smiled as he pulled me into a friendly embrace.
My throat caught not allowing me to utter a word. I led Leonardo to the door. Leonardo gave me one last encouraging nod before heading out the door. I closed the door slowly. My smile fading from my face. I was hard to say goodbye to a good friend you just met.
Paranoid with he thoughts of the past letting Leonardo walk away...
I took a deep sigh as I turned to my desk. A single moment of tranquility and stepping out of reality was gone as I faced the world in front of me. Turning back to my problems and challenges I have faced for years without relief.

September 8 1802
I took a long breath as I paused at the top of the stairs of City Hall. The sun was setting between the buildings as the sky was casted in the most brilliant colors of orange and pink.
Today seemed normal, busy day. Working from dawn till dusk, windows open, working by candlelight as it seemed routine to hear men shouting above as the quarreled with various issues that President and Vice President had to deal with it fix after the Adams Administration.
The rattling of a carriage, barking of dogs and ship belles ringing eased my mind.
I walked down the stairs and strolled down the street. Watching and listening to the ever changing city around me.
It seemed after months of mourning and hardship, I found a sense of tranquility every step I took forward. Carrying the future ahead of me and leaving my worries behind me.
I smiled as I watched children run through the streets as they played games, not having a care in the world.
I was envious of their manner, living freely without a care.
But it also filled me with a sense of joy that they have this opportunity, that many can't cherish anymore.
Occupied with my own thoughts I found myself at the gate of Trinity Church Cemetery as I gazed through the bronze gate to the array of gravestones.
I calmly opened the gate as it squeaked open.
I walked down a small path until I got to Philip's grave. I looked down at the grave with a tightening heart. I missed him so. I missed getting carried away with conversations as we walked toe to toe down the streets. His bright freckled face never seemed to dim every time I looked at him.
One thing that cherished the most about Philip was his loving and powerful connection with his family.
That his parents cared and loved him so much and saw a bright future for the young man. And how Philip cared so much about his siblings as he stood up as a role model for all of his siblings.
It gave me an opportunity to be a part of a family that I never had a chance when I was growing up. I looked up at the setting sky as I smiled.
"Thank you." I murmured as I bowed my head.
I stepped back from the grave with warmth in my heart as I blinked away some tears as I existed the empty graveyard.
The candlelight in the windows of passing houses guided me back to Burr's residence.
I opened the door as I walked in. A harsh voice caught my off guard as I looked over at the source.
"You're late." Burr growled as he walked towards his study.
I frowned as I was met with Burr's ill temper.
"My apologies." I said flatly as turned my gaze off of Burr's cold stare.
"That's not good enough, I've told you time and time again not to dolly after you're dismissed form your work, there's too much precious time to be wasted." Burr snapped.
I bit my lip as I felt anger start to rise in my throat.
"What time is there to be wasted?" I retorted.
Burr turned slowly back towards me as I felt cold sweat rolling down my neck.
"To much Ezio, while your drawing whimsical scratched on paper, I'm trying to keep this goddamn nation from tearing itself apart!" Burr said almost in a yell.
I clenched my jaw shut as my eyes narrowed with a hurtful look.
" I think I know what your position is as Vice President Mr.Burr." I said cooly.
Without another word I turned my back to Burr as I headed up the stairs and slammed my door shut. I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths to calm myself.
I knew the troubles Burr was facing as Vice President. I knew how ungrateful Jefferson was to have Burr as his wing.
I knew the tension between Burr and Hamilton was heating up with each passing letter to each other.
It saddened me how much Burr changed with the influence of political power.
Once a patient, wise man now turned into a selfish, political driven man. Who's only intention was to benefit his personal needs.
Maybe Hamilton was right, maybe Burr doesn't have any believes towards the public needs of man and women.

The year soon came to an end. Jefferson's presidency stared to enroll into a bigger commitment. As of the beginning of 1803, Jefferson unexpectedly purchased 827,000 square miles of land from the French for a sum of 15 million dollars called the Louisiana Purchase. Expanding our landmass about three times it's original size. The whole country was perplexed why Jefferson went through with this action. Being a man who believed strongly in a strict constitution, this was a stretch for the states and the Government. As the country fumbled with the purchase it seemed, the bitter cold of winter brought heated tension.