July 4, 1776
Once a child is grown, he believes himself already a man and ready to take up the hardship of adulthood. But in this time, he forgets who had taught him to be a man and held his hand for his first steps… his father. The father that taught him how to raise his musket to shoot for his game… but one day the father will become the game…

Arthur Kirkland was on his knees in the soft, muddy earth of the battlefield with his face in hand. He could feel the chilling rain hit the back of his neck and run down his back, and he thought of how his tears and the rain felt so much the same. Yes he was crying and he knew he looked weak in front of his men also in front of his enemies. Then in front the person who he had hid all the years of tears from, his little brother, Alfred. His little brother… brother, no! Brother was not the word that fit the love Arthur had for Alfred, this young man who was standing forward-facing him was his beloved son! At the thought of Alfred, Arthur took his head out of his hands and looked up at his child only to be met with Alfred's bitter light blue eyes which he remembered when it was laughing and an upsetting long frown that seem to him to be wide of the mark of who Alfred was.

"Didn't you hear me, Arthur?!," Alfred roared at the top of his lungs, "All I want from you is my freedom! I am no longer a little child that neither needs you nor am I your brother! From this day on, consider me my own man and I will never run back to you, old man!"

The so-called old man heard these words, but did not make any scene to him. His heart could not take this hate that was said toward him. What could he say to make things better like when Alfred was a small child and was scared of the ghost story he used to tell him? What could he say to him to make him understand what he felt in his heart for him? Alfred was only the young age of nineteen years old, what did he ever know about being a man? What in the name of heaven and earth could he do to make him stay and not do this?

" I won't let you do this, boy! You bloody damn idiot!," Arthur bellowed back at Alfred, "Why can't you ever stick to anything to the end?! You're too young to do anything by yourself, you will more than likely die! You think your strength will save you in the end, but it won't, you crazy git! There is no way I can kill you, I just…. can't… Why, oh dear god, why…. This is so… not fair! I loved you all the days you lived! I taught you how to walk… you held my hands for your… first steps… Your my…"

he just couldn't say it…. The word son. The word that would let Alfred know how much Arthur cared for him, which might make him stay. But in the back of Arthur's mind, he knew that Alfred would leave him… but he hoped that this would pass… that this was a dream.

Arthur felt an arm rap around him and heard Alfred whisper into his ear "You know why… what happened to you Arthur? I remember when you were… great… This has to happen, it is not that I don't care about you… I need to find myself in this world, be a man on my own…. And if I fall, I pray you are by me for my last moments… I love you and fair thee well." Alfred squeezed his brother for the last time in their lives. The young man walked away from all he knew not turning around, to his unknown destiny of greatness and riches, but at the moment did not know of this, but only that he was a new being.

Leaving his older brother in total wretchedness and seclusion was more than Arthur could take. Arthur for the first time in his life felt absolutely belittled and had a heartache so painful, the rain of the gloomy day only seemed to add more sorrow. His tears flowed further and he screamed into the heavy air, "Alfred!" His men tried to get him up off the ground, but he pushed them all away yelling his child's name louder, even though he was out of sight, he still hoped he would run into his arms as a little child.
"All I wanted was for you to love me…I just wanted someone for me to care about… that was you, damn… Alfred." he whispered to himself.

July 4, 2012
Only time can heal a broken heart. Though there is not enough time or space to keep the pain away. The heart is still covered with scars and agony still flows within the victim's veins. When does the bitterness stop and the loss resign from the mind? Never unless you want to lose all emotions.

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Arthur Kirkland sat in a large red arm chair facing the warm lit fire sipping on some freshly made tea. He felt relaxed and was very content with himself on this lazy evening. The day had gone slowly and peacefully with him spending most of the day outside walking in his gardens. He had thought that it had been a day that he could forget all his worries, and that he was grateful for it. Arthur refilled his teacup and picked up his newspaper. He unfolded the paper and took a sip of his tea, on the first page was in bold print 'ALFRED F. JONES TURNS 36 TODAY JULY 4th'. Arthur gulped his tea hard and threw the newspaper on the floor in horror. He had forgotten Alfred's birthday and now it was too late to even call him. He couldn't even believe it was 2012 and Alfred 36 years old?! Was The Revolutionary War that long ago, it felt like it was only yesterday.

It has been that long, he thought. And that horrid last name of his, I had given him an honorable last name and then he changed it just to make a point that we were no longer brothers, that git! Oh if only I had-. He stopped himself from falling back into those sad times. He had been strong after Alfred had left in his people eyes, but really he was crying almost every night. It had taken years to get over that he had no little brother to take care of. He wasn't about to let himself get miserable once again.
Arthur rose out of his arm chair, almost knocking it over and raised his teacup to toast his little brother. He thought for a little then he smiled to himself. This will be the perfect toast for Alfred, he thought.

"Little brother, I remember when you were great… When we were brethren long ago! Here's to you, Alfred!" He raised his cup and swallowed it down with some delight.

But there was still a pain in his chest...