Her

25

Lin:

This was it. Today was the day that I was performing at the White House. I couldn't believe this, somebody pinch me I felt like I was dreaming. "You're gonna do amazing." Desi reassures me, calming my nerves down. I give her a kiss on the lips and we both smile.

We get out of the car and walk inside. It was so huge and big inside this building. We got here a bit earlier just to know what exactly I was gonna do and how I was gonna do it, since we didn't have time to practice.

My parents, Aspyn and Desi went to go find seats in the audience while a guy backstage told me and explained everything to me. I nodded understandigly. Before I was supposed to go onstage, I was chatting with one of my old friends Alex Lacamoire. He was a professional pianist and he was going to play my instrumental for tonight.

He had played it with me before since he helped me create the song that I was about to perform in a few minutes. I say goodbye to him and he wishes me luck before he disappears into the wings. I hear my cue and I walk onstage.

Suddenly, everyone cheers for me and I smile. "Hello, everyone. My name is Lin-Manuel Miranda. I'm thrilled that I got invited to the White House tonight because I'm actually working on a concept album about the life of someone who I think embodies hip-hop, Alexander Hamilton." I begin and I hear the audience laugh.

"You laugh, but it's true. He was born a penniless orphan, became George Washington's right hand man, became Treasury Secretary, caught beef with every other founding father, and all in his strength of his writing I think he embodies the word's ability to make a difference. So, I'm going to be performing the first song of that tonight. I am accompanied by the great Alex Lacamoire," I point to Alex and everyone cheers for him.

"Anything you need to know, I'll be playing vice-president, Aaron Burr and snap along if you'd like." I say and the music begins, I start snapping as well.

"How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore
And a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
In the Caribbean by Providence, impoverished, in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?
The ten-dollar Founding Father without a father
Got a lot farther
By workin' a lot harder
By bein' a lot smarter
By bein' a self-starter
By fourteen they had placed him in charge of the trade and charter
And every day while slaves were being slaughtered
And carted away across the waves
Our Hamilton kept his guard up
Inside he was longing for something to be a part of
The brother was ready to beg steal borrow or barter
Then a hurricane came and
Devastation reigned and
Our man saw his future drip drippin' down the drain
Put a pencil to his temple
Connected it to his brain
And he wrote his first refrain
A testament to his pain
Well the word got around, they said, "This kid is insane, man!"
Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland
Getcha education, don't forget from whence you came
And the world is gonna know your name!

What's your name, man?
Alexander Hamilton, his name is Alexander Hamilton
And there's a million things he hasn't done
But just you wait, just you wait

When he was 10, his father split
Full of it, debt-ridden
Two years later, see Alex and his mother, bed-ridden
Half-dead, sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick
And Alex got better but his mother went quick
Moved in with a cousin, the cousin committed suicide
Left him with nothin' but ruined pride
Somethin' new inside
A voice saying Alex, you gotta fend for yourself
He started retreatin' and readin' every treatise on the shelf
There would've been nothin' left to do
For someone less astute
He would've been dead or destitute
Without a cent of restitution
Started workin', clerkin' for his late mother's landlord
Tradin' sugar cane and rum and other things he can't afford
Scannin' for every book he can get his hands on
Plannin' for the future, see him now as he stands on
The bow of a ship headed for a new land
In New York you can be a new man
The ship is in the harbor now
See if you can spot him
Another immigrant comin' up from the bottom
His enemies destroyed his rep, America forgot him
And me? I'm the damn fool that shot him

Alexander Hamilton
We were waiting in the weeds for you
You could never back down
You always had to speak your mind
But Alexander Hamilton, we could never take your deeds from you
In our cowardice and our shame
We will try to destroy your name
The world will never be the same, Alexander!

Yeah, I'm the damn genius that shot him

I end and I get a standing ovation. I can't believe that a year ago I had this idea in my mind and now I can share it with the world little by little. And it's all thanks to Desi. She turned my life upside down and made me believe in good things again. I'm endlessly thankful for her everyday.