Locked Away (GerIta)

Chapter 42

The train was cold, the air outside was colder, but Ludwig felt it was all relative. Why would he be able to feel warmth?

He looked out of the window, watching the trees pass, blue eyes still against a forever moving landscape. Ludwig felt out of place in his clothes; a sweater and a nice pair of pants, leather shoes. Everything was comfortable.

Not stiff, itchy, ironed, or starched. No laced boots, no heavy jacket, nothing of the sort. Only warm wool and cool cotton met Ludwig's skin. He shifted uncomfortably.

The train screeched to a halt and a few lingering passengers got on, one sitting across from him with a bright smile. He spoke a language that made no sense to Ludwig so he just shook his head and shrugged, seemingly getting the message across.

After a while, the man pulled out a deck of cards and laid them on the table in between them, looking at him quizically.

The German nodded after a few seconds of hesitation and rubbed the tips of his fingers along the smooth back of the Ace in his hand.

They played Rummy. Ludwig huffed a sort of a laugh when he won, but felt no triumph nor victory.

~

Ludwig walked up the creaky steps and approached the white wooden door. He stared at it for a long while before he rapped lightly against it with his unbruised hand.

No one answered.

He took a deep breath and looked around. The neighbourhood was quiet, pretty. Peaceful.

He sat atop the first step and tried to take in the beauty of the nature. The trees leaves shook in the breeze and the old oak's huge twisted branch creaked occasionally.

Ludwig sighed. He waited.

~

Gilbert walked down the sidewalk, returning from a day of work. He had the evening paper folded under his arm and adjusted his hat to protect his eyes from the sun.

The gravel of the house's pathway crunched under his feet and he grimaced, the sun invading his sight as he turned up the driveway. Gilbert tilted his hat and squinted, blinking a few times as he stopped a few feet from the front steps.

"Son of a bitch." He mumbled.

Gilbert reached out and tugged his little brother into a tight hug. He lauged despite the tears spilling from his eyes and gripped the back of Ludwig's neck.

"You've grown." He whispered.

~

Gilbert only remembered Ludwig being shorter than him, not by much but still. He was lean, not built like he was now. He was still a kid.

Gilbert now saw a man.

Perhaps a destroyed man, but a man nonetheless.

~

Feliciano sat at his kitchen table in his apartment, reading the newspaper as he ate some peanuts from a can. It was a normal day.

He uncrossed his legs and then crossed them again, moving on to the next article.

The telephone rang.