My Book Blog

New Years Eve, 1976

[New Years Eve, Outskirts of Germany, Alternate Earth, 1976]

Snow was falling. I wasn't cold, though. I was too content to be cold. There was a fire in the middle of the snow-covered cobblestone square, stars twinkled above us, a few couples danced together and smiled, rubble was piled up against the corners of fallen buildings to make way for dancing, and the smell of cider drifted across the small town. A cheerful piano song played from the shop that was full of people with tattered coats and empty pockets, but full hearts. Winning a battle would do that to you. We had defeated a small bit of evil force in this town and now the people were free and full of love. Much greater, bigger enemies lay ahead: that was a world war for you. But my small team of unexpected friends had helped defeat a piece of the enemy.
"Remus, I'm going to miss this," I whispered. I smiled at the old couples swaying lightly and grabbed Remus's cold and bandaged hand. "What do you say we dance?" I asked. Remus pulled me over by the fire and placed his hand on my waist. He bit his lip, thinking. "You're right, I'm gonna miss this too. Being here with these people who are joyful despite all the pain and death around them, because they won their own little town back and that's enough for a day. Being here with the music and the drinks...and with you, of course," Remus added with a slight grin, looking down at me as we danced.
"I'm glad I made it onto your list, Rems," I said with a small laugh.
"You're at the top, you know that?" Remus questioned, cocking his head.
I clutched Remus's oversized tan sweater tightly. "What do you mean?"
Remus leaned in to whisper to me, tucking my brown hair behind my ear. "I'm in love with you, now and forever. You, Katherine, are the most beautiful hurricane that I have ever had the immense and immeasurable pleasure of knowing. I could shout it to the stars," Remus said, his eyebrows furrowed and his brown eyes wide with emotion. He stepped away and threw his arms in the air. "I LOVE KATHERINE MATTHEWS!"
I laughed loudly as many of the married couples dancing and sitting by the fire glanced at Remus very strangely. I grabbed Remus's scarred hand and ran my hand through his course dark blonde curls, staring into his brown eyes. "Remus, I love you so so so much too. I could burst," I said. I then wrapped my arms around him in a flurry and brought him into the tightest and sweetest hug of all the war times, I'm sure. Remus laughed loudly and pulled away, kissing me on the lips as he did. I grinned up at him. "I'm going to miss this," I repeated, emphasizing each word with as much meaning as I could. Remus grabbed my hands. "Me too, Katherine. This is the kind of night that I'm gonna wish and wish I could relive."
The piano song ended. I wiped snow off my cheeks. "It's almost 1977. Do you have any goals for the year, Rems?"
Remus answered almost immediately: "I know everyone would wish for the war to stop, and I wish that very, very much, but I also have a more selfish wish." Remus paused and we started to dance as the piano started up again. "I wish that I would appreciate life more: the little we might have left. I want to live to the very fullest," Remus decided. I smiled as a single firework (the only one the people could afford) shot up into the sky. A loud bang erupted and red sparks shot to the stars. "I think that's perfect, Remus. Perfect."