All I remember is driving, so I must've been older than my first forgotten memory. I think I was drunk, since the things I said didn't make sense, at all. I remember passing a sign that read out, 'now leaving New Prussia. Come again soon,'

Then?

Then, I woke up,

How?

I don't know. I was in a room and it felt, cold.

Cold how?

C-cold. It's always been there, I guess. I suppose I never really acknowledged that before. I used to like the cold, I think, but it makes me feel lonely.

Really?

Yeah, anyway, I woke up screaming. I don't even know what I was yelling. Something along the lines of, 'I trusted him. I loved him, and he throws it all out for,' for, f-for, uh,

You don't remember

I-I can remember, some things, at least. It's just, some things just, kind of escape you, you know? Uh, so, people came in and I was scared. I didn't know where I was or who these people were, but some of them held me down tight,

Hurting you?

No, not hurting me, but not letting me move. One of them grabbing my chin harshly and holding my head down. I hear more people coming in, then feel sharp pains in my arms, legs, and, wrists.

Needles

Yeah, I don't like them. I never have, I'm pretty sure, at least. I was crying, screaming, and attempting to thrash, but as I said, they had me down pack tight. I felt reparative jabs of the metal and plastic syringes penetrating my skin, then some kind of liquid swiftly moving into my muscles and capillaries. It was painful, especially since there were many at a time, and no matter how many times I asked or screamed, nobody would tell me what was going on, nor comfort me.

Then?

Then, it stopped, the majority of them left, dumping the used syringes into the 'Contamination' bin on their way out. Some of them stayed with me, words of encouragement leaving their mouths, telling me how brave I was, even though knew it wasn't true.

Who are you?

Good question. I think I have a bracelet, or something to tell me who I am. It says here I'm 'Matthew Williams' I hope I have family to boost some memories.

"MATTIE!" A voice shouted from the doorway. It extremely startled me. I look to the voice and see a very worried man standing there with piercing crimson eyes and white silver hair, slightly drenched in what I think was rain.

Who is he?

I don't know, but all I know is that I hope he wasn't a part of my family. As he advanced towards me, I tried to sit up to the best of my abilities. The man, of course helping me up as well.

"As soon as I got the call, I rushed over," he said, smiling at me softly. "What time is it?" I ask, groaning and brought my hand to my head in slight pain.

Headache?

Yeah, well when you go into a Comatose-like state for God knows how long, it can be expected as normal to have a little headache when you first sit up. The man looks at his watch, his hair still dripping with rain water, the droplets landing on his lap, his jeans also wet extremely with the rainy weather, I suppose. "3.25. Al has yet to wake up. Matthew, this is a Miracle! So many people wanted to give up on you, but I'm very glad we didn't," He said, looking up at me with soft eyes, then it hit me.

"Wait, what!? You were up almost all night for them to call you!?" I shouted as I was stunned, to say the least.

"Not only tonight, Birdie~! I've come just about every day possible to lie down with you and rest while at night, I'd be up, waiting at the kitchen table, phone in hand, praying for a good call," He said, looking down in his hands, seemingly trying to grasp at something.

"Why?" I asked, blushing a deep red, turning so he wouldn't see. He jerked his head up to see my head turned and my face red, and he blushed, as well. "Well, we're like, best friends," He said, then chuckled as he checked his phone after it dinged once. "Oh, Al's awake, and he's on his way over now," He said, looking up at me.

I'll need to pretend that my heart didn't just break and hung itself at him saying the words, 'Best,' and 'Friends,' in the same sentence as, 'We're,'

Why?

I guess I liked him, but he doesn't feel the same about me. I want to cry, but I don't want him to see me do it.

Too late, I suppose

Wait, what? I touch my hand to feel teardrops running down my face. The man rushes out of his seat as he sees me crying. Being tired of having the Railing separate us, he puts it down and immediately climbs into the Hospital bed with me and holds me tight as he comfortingly petting my hair, purposely stopping at a certain spot, then going down again.

"There, There, Mattie. I know you miss your Bruder, but you have to stay strong, for him. For me," He said, meaning to comfort me, but it took me into a shock of a memory.

"How could you, Gil!?" I heard a screaming voice; it was mine, but why was I screaming? I saw a man who stood with his head in his hands. He had blonde hair and a long protruding curl from his head, then I hear another voice, "Hey, you wanna talk about it?" The man looked up to see Another man, also with blonde hair, and a curl, but It was shorter and thicker then the first one. He was holding a cardboard cup that read out, 'Tim Horton's' on it. The first man smiled. "You're lucky I love Timmies, Al," He said, chuckling, grabbing the cup of liquid from the 'Al'. The 'Al' sat down next to him on the concrete step to a house. He sipped at his cup, but his said, 'StarBucks' on it. The first man sighed heavily. "Gilbert?" "Gilbert," The man confirmed the other one's questioning with a simple chuckle. "Matthew, you're too good for him," Al said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But, I keep falling for him. No matter what he does. I'm so stupid!" He said, burying his face in his knees. "Hey, you are not stupid. He is. Just," He sighed then, looked at Matthew and held him close. "There, there, Mattie. I know you love him, but you have to be strong. For him, For me," "I don't need this pity, Al," Matthew said, slamming his cup on the concrete and storming inside, grumbling after him, "I need weed,"

"Was I high that night?" I asked, without even knowing it. Gilbert stopped in his tracks. It looked like he was shaking. He shakily nodded, then I hear harsh hitched breaths as Gilbert clenched me tighter, burying his face in the nook of my neck.

"M-Mattie!" I hear another voice. Gilbert moves aside as I am tackled in A sloppy hug. I feel as though I'm being crushed, and I immediately begin to rapidly tap on the man's shoulder sat straight up and his eyes were watery and his lips quivering as tears uncontrollably drown his voice, only to be heard as squeaks, and hitched whines. I chuckled weakly and pulled him in for another hug.

Who is he?

I think that's 'Al'. I don't know if he's my brother, or what, but he says, "Come on, bro! Hug your little Brother like a man!" Al said, squeezing at my chest. I wheeze involuntarily, and Al immediately lets go of me, patting at my back a couple of times, then his face brightens up as he pulls out various things in a bag that he'd 'Somehow gotten through security,' as he explained, shrugging his shoulders at me. He hands me a pair of glasses, and a flip phone with a Canadian Flag on it. I put the glasses on and flip open the phone to see the memory had been filled with videos and pictures.

"Well, don't be shy, Mattie. Look through them. It is your phone, after all," Al said, as I looked up at him cautiously. I hit, 'Play,' on the first video of the bunch. It showed the scene. A man's voice that sounded like Gilbert's had my phone and was recording it, with Al's permission, of course.

"He's unconscious, but hopefully we can wake him up at the Hospital," He says, his hand holding the phone shaking as he walks up to see me being put on a stretcher and strapped in. He puts his pale hand on my chest as he begins to cry in my chest, apologizing repetitively. It ends. I look up to see both men once again tearing up, them wiping the tears off of their cheeks. I play another one.

"Yo, we're on our way with the Allies, Axis, And others to go visit you, Bro! Say, 'Hi,' to Mattie, everyone!" Al yells, holding the phone up to reveal a whole group of people walking skipping and galloping behind. They all stop their singing, laughing, and joke telling and say in unison, "Hi, Matthew!" All of them chuckle, and he brings the phone down to focus on him, but others intervene. This really tall guy with a heavy looking coat and a pink-salmon scarf snatched the phone from Al, and said in a thick Russian accent, "Allo, Matthew! Ivan, here. When you get back here, I'm going to kick your ass in a Hockey Match, Da?" I chuckled as I rhetorically replied, "Da," Then, a man in green with huge bushy eyebrows that were hysterical to look at said, "Hey, Matthew. Arthur, here. When you get back, I'll make some tea, and we could spend the day catching up, eh?" He said, then the man, slightly taller and with a French accent said, "Don't listen to him, Matthew. Big brother Francis will take you out to eat, and then maybe watch a movie, does that sound okay?" "Aiya! I want to talk to him!" Said a smaller man with a pony tail in his hair, holding a panda bear, shouted, taking the phone. "Hmph! Those guys can be overbearing, yes? When you need a stress relief, we could hang out, do some tai-chi, yes?" A slightly taller man, but not as tall as Al, nor Ivan said in the background, "And you and I could watch Anime together, hai?" Then, the video cut off after Gil tried to apologize once more to the camera. I play the next.

"Hey, bro! It's your totally awesome bro, Alfred, here! I'm the HERO! I'm really craving one of your pancakes, right now! I can't wait till you wake up, man! I'm going to kick your ass for driving while tired! UGH! I could have gotten your Cush if it meant that you would still be here today! I'm sorry, Matthew! Some brother I turned out to be! I'm supposed to be the hero, dammit! What's a hero without his sidekick? I wish I had paid more attention to you when you were here, and not wasting away in a hospital room," He ranted, then broke to tears. I looked up to him with watering eyes to see him, once more, crying into Gilbert's shoulders. Gilbert patting and rubbing consistently to calm the American down, "Anyways, I love you, bro, and I want you to know, that I always will," I tear up a lot at that message.

Why?

I don't know. I guess it might have something to do with him being my brother, and I begin to remember things. Like, one time, Arthur, Francis, and I were walking and Alfred walked towards us, chatting with Ivan and Arthur literally attempted to hide behind Francis and I, making it look like we were holding hands. It was hilarious to listen to Francis trying to explain to everyone else.

Couldn't you have explained?

Well, yeah, but, I have social anxiety, and other complicated things that basically prevent me from doing anything social. And, because of my shyness, I often get forgotten about a lot or confused with sad Alfred, or distracted Alfred, or sleeping Alfred, or just, Alfred in general, really. The only ones who could tell us apart were Francis and Gilbert, and sometimes, if I'm lucky, Arthur, but Francis wouldn't always remember me, though. I also remembered I had some kind of flirting thing with Gilbert, but obviously, with him saying we were only friends, I doubt that I'll ever be with him. Francis is like a father to me, so I doubt he would try anything on me, even though, I wish he'd just do anything, really.

"Matthew, is that you?" I hear yet another voice from the doorway. It. Was, I think, Arthur and Francis. Their eyes filling with tears as hey ran up and hugged me, not as sloppy as Alfred, but also not as distant as Gilbert.

I chuckled softly, as I weakly hug them back. "It's really me, I hope," Everyone in the room chuckled at my end comment. Arthur looking at the phone, then encouraging me to continue, that I'm at the most meaningful one.

"Happy New Year, Matthew!" Multiple voices are heard now from the phone as I saw them in the Hospital room with streamers and banners, noisemakers and party hats. One was placed peacefully on my head, being able to stay due to my limpness. Tears fill in my eyes as I see everyone talking about the past, telling stories. Well, all except for Gilbert, who sat there, gazing at me, chuckling at every story or joke they tell, then gets up to leave when his eyes watered severely. Alfred handed the phone to Arthur and walking out to talk to Gilbert. Arthur occupies the camera by having it view over the roomful of people. Ivan was there and he was right by my bed. Arthur asked what he was doing and he said, "Waiting for permission," Arthur, confused, questioning the large Russian male. Ivan then leaned himself over my bed, and kissed me. Then, said, "Happy New Year, Pancake~!" Then, Arthur cut the video off.

I was blushing all kinds of red at Ivan's affections. "Uh, wha?!" I asked, confused at everything. "I was out for New Years?" I asked, and everyone nodded, Matthew plopped himself to his bed, sighing heavily.

Alfred suddenly perked up, still sitting in the Hospital bed, with Gilbert, and I looked at him. "Hey, I have an idea! Why don't we surprise the others by not telling them you're awake. You'll come to the next meeting and they'll be like, 'Hey, I didn't know you were awake, Matthew,' And, I'll be like, 'SURPRISE!'" Alfred shouted, making me flinch. Arthur calmed the loud fun loving American down by lifting his hand, to hush the room, and it worked. He then turned to me, placing a gentle hand on my forearm, looking at me softly. "Take your time, Mathew. There is absolutely no rush to your recovery. Alfred's just really pumped that you'll be able to come to the meetings again, noot that we all aren't," He smiled.

Are you okay with this?

Actually, I have a lot of anxiety, because, I have to gain strength again to be able to walk, and meeting everyone all over again? That won't be easy at all, and that's the biggest understatement of my life, I think! I basically shrink in my bed, trying to block everyone else out.

Why? Are they making you feel uncomfortable?

"No, that's not it, It's ju. . . st. Uh, Sorry. I thought someone asked If I didn't like the plan. Clearly, I misheard," I stuttered out as everyone was now looking at me, worried expressions were different with each one's facial features, but all shared the same concern for me. Arthur speaks up, daring to break the silence of the room, "Matthew, you didn't mishear any body, because nobody said anything," His thick British accent rang through my head. Well, if no body said anything, who are you?

I am not yet obligated to tell you, Matthew. For I am simply here to help in your post-Coma memory hunt.

"What does that mean?" I ask, not intending the question to be for Arthur, buut he sought afteer filling me with information. "Well, no body said a word and you just go saying things. Matthew, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that you've gone mad," Arthur said, with a large chuckle to the end, directing the room's attention towards himself. I look harshly to him, then rolled over to face the empty chair, in which, not too long ago, Gilbert was sitting, telling me we were best friends; only best friends, and that's all. Everything is so, so. . . S-so damn -

Confusing?

Yes! I kind of pouted as I laid there. Francis was the first to speak up, "Well, I think Matthew is trying to tell us that he wants some rest," He said, his French accent made the sentence barely distinguishable, but I nodded, nevertheless. Alfred patted my leg and I look up,curious. "Do you mind if Gil still sleeps here with you? Ludwig's gotten all bent out of shape when he wakes up to find Gilbert asleep at the kitchen table every morning," My eyes widened. I mean, It's not likeI thought that he lied or anything, it's just that I mean, with of how unpopular I am,that i was sure he'd forget about me within a week or so.

I looked over to Gilbert to see him averting eye contact with me. I looked back to Alfred, eyes pleading for an explanation of the German's recent behavior change. I look back to him and he smiles softly at me, and my heart melts in sympathy for him. I mean, for him to feel like he can't even look me in the eyes? Did I really, have I hurt him in the past? Desperate for an answer or anything,really. I hesitantly nodded my head, "Yeah, sure. You can stay with me," I say softly.

"Uh, Danke schon, Birdie," He said, barely audible. I miled and laughed, "C'mon, Gil! You're starting to sound like me. Don't worry about it, man! That's what friends are for, am I right?" I say, trying to act as if my heart hadn't reshaped itself, and hung itself again at the words 'Best Friends', but this time, it was coming from my though, i wanted to be so much more, I knew that if I told him this early, then he might get overwhelmed and get freaked out and never speak to me again! Oh, no!

"Matthew, are you okay?" Gilbert asked, placing a hand on my forearm, like Arthur did earlier. I wanted to make him hold my hand, because there was this, kind of like, a sharp pain in my chest, and I didn't know what it was, but with every breath I took, as the friends I've grown to forget had already been long gone by now, the pain got sharper, and harsher, lasting longer in my chest, leaving less and less time in between what I'd hoped to be discreet quick gasps of air that got quicker, and shallower. Once I knew that everyone but Gilbert and I had left the room, I clutched my hand to his, tears swelling in my eyes, I choked out, "I. . ..C-can't br-" And, before I knew it, Gilbert was out the door, coming back with nurses and doctors. He tried to stay by my side, but they told him he couldn't.

Before I passed out once more, I remember him whispering as he folded his hands and put them behind his head, setting against his severely disheveled white silver hair,

"Birdie, what did I do to you. . . ?"

Well, miracles don't last forever,now do they?

This is a fact I've known from the bottom of my heart, and as I fought to stay awake, hoping that I not close my yes ever again, in fear of not being able to see Gilbert again, it tore me apart to see what I was doing to him. 'What had I done, exactly?'