Symphony for the Lost

Jolly

"Mattie!! Vake up!!! It's Christmas!!"
"Five more minutes."
"Krampus vill eat jou if jou don't get up."
"Who?"
"Vakey vakey."
I opened my eyes to see Gilbert smiling at me. I considered going back to sleep, but Gil was wearing a Christmas sweater and he looked fucking sexy. He pressed his hand to my cheek and kissed my lips.
"Alfred's coming over at noon." I told him. "He has a wedding to go to so he'll probably want food."
"Ve'll feed him leftover spaghetti."
"It's three weeks old."
"So?"
"So...it's too fresh."
Gilbert chuckled and kissed me again.
"I know jou hate presents, but I promise I didn't spend anyzhing on jours." Gilbert reached into the top drawer on his nightstand and rummaged through it until he found what he was looking for. He hid it behind his back before I could see.
"I want to give you my gift first." I admitted.
"Vhen did jou have time to get me a gift?"
"I didn't. Alfred FaceTimed me from the mall and I picked it out."
Gilbert grinned. "It's cute how far jou vent just for me."
"Well...I love you..." I looked down at the pillow beneath me, looking sheepish and apologetic.
Gilbert was so happy he had tears in his eyes.
"Mattie...jou just saying zhat is enough of a gift for me."
"Well, too bad. You're getting something else." I climbed out of bed and squatted to dig through the duffle bag I hadn't unpacked from the hospital yet. The party with Gil's brother and brother in law had gone all night and trying to keep drunk Gil out of trouble was tiring. We did manage to sneak a sloppy, but intense make out session in there at least.
"I know it's not much and that I had to cheat on you to get the money...but you're too important to me to leave you with nothing."
Gilbert looked like he wanted to reach out to me, but he was still hiding my gift behind his back.
I pulled the shopping bag out and set it in his lap.
Gilbert set my gift down and started to open his. His red eyes lit up at the yellow bird toque he pulled out.
"It's to keep your ears warm in style."
"Mattie...I love it! Zhis is zhe best hat I'll ever own!" I laughed as he pulled me into an endearing embrace.
I kissed his cheek, then lips, then jaw.
"Whoa, Mattie. Slow down!" Gilbert looked like he wanted to continue, but I knew he was excited to give me my gift.
"Sorry." I giggled.
"Gött. Zhat vas zhe cutest noise I have ever heard."
"Shuttup." I pouted.
Gilbert laughed. He struggled to straighten out his face as he revealed what was behind his back.
"G-Gil!" I choked out. This was...a pretty fancy looking ring.
"Before jou speak, let me tell jou a story." He requested. "Mein opa snuck zhis zhing over zhe Berlin Vall back in zhe fifties. He met mein oma two years later und proposed to her vizh it. Zhen, zhey had mein vatti, who proposed to mein mutti vizh it. Mutti gave it to me und now I'm giving it to jou."
I opened my mouth back up, but Gilbert pressed a finger to my lips.
"Mattie, I vant jou to take zhis ring und use it to propose to me vhen jou vant. I'll say ja no matter vhat. I promise. I just don't to pressure jou into saying ja if jou don't fully vant to." He was rambling now and his face was bright red. I had never seen a man look so vulnerable.
"Gil..." I held out my hands and Gilbert put the small piece of jewelry into my palms. It was so sturdy looking, just like the country that birthed the love of my life. I pinched it between my fingers and lifted it in front of his face.
"Will you marry me?"
Gilbert's face twitched in surprise but he quickly gathered himself, launching his body into my arms and knocking us onto the floor, him on top of me.
"Ja. I vill."

Can you feel
My heart beat
I'm tired of feeling
I'm
Never enough
I
Close my eyes
And
Tell myself that my dreams will come true.....

Me: *sobbing*