Sleeping Cruelty

"Weißt du, wie viele Sternlein stehen an dem blauen Himmelzelt?

Weißt du, wie viel Wolken gehen weithin über alle Welt?

Gott der Herr hat sie gezählet, dass ihm auch nicht eines fehlet an der ganzen großen Zahl, an der ganzen großen Zahl…" Wilhelm Hey

Attempted translation:

„Do you know, how many little stars are upon the blue heaven's tent?

Do you know how many clouds are walking over the whole world?

God the Lord has counted them so that not one from whole big lot is missing, from the whole big lot…"

Germany stood in front of the mirror. He placed a hand on his chest. There was something inside him. Something he feared. Something he detested. As if he was schizophrenic. He pulled his black top a little aside and placed a hand directly above his heart. He scratched his skin there until his fingernails left red marks. "I don't want this, I don't want this…"

"Bruder?"

Germany turned around surprised. "Yes?"

"What are you doing here so late in the night?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"A Nightmare?"

"No… I couldn't fall asleep at all."

Gilbert leaned against the sink.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't think that is necessary…", Germany went to leave.

Gilbert grabbed his wrist: "Since when is it good to bottle up sorrows? I am your brother. You can trust me.", he smiled at his little brother.

Germany leaned against the sink next to his brother.

"I am worrying.", he looked over his shoulder shortly into the mirror and faced then the floor, "Europe… it is breaking apart. And… here,", he placed a hand again above his heart, "I feel the hate bubbling up. I don't want this. I feel like I am breaking apart.", tears dwelled up in his eyes, but he tried to hide them. His older brother noticed them, but he kept quiet about them, "I am afraid that it will… happen again.", a little tear rolled over his cheek, "Why is everyone ignoring the problems? Why is nobody helping me? Why is everyone so egoistic? I thought we were a community, a unity. It is called 'European Union', isn't it? I gave money to help them, but nobody is helping me back."

He felt stubborn anger, he felt like he did back when he was small insecure and lonely.

"I have friends – friends on the surface."

Gilbert couldn't bear it anymore. He grabbed his brother and settled him in his arms.

"The truth is in the end… we are all alone.", Gilbert thought.

Ludwig laid his head down on his brother's shoulder. Gilbert felt Ludwig stiffen up. He knew that already. He was trying to hold back his tears.

"You don't have to hold back. Cry, if you want to. No matter how old you get – you will always stay my little brother. Shall I sing you a lullaby?"

"No…", he sobbed slightly. Then he began to wet his brother's shirt with his tears.

"Shhh…", Gilbert combed softly through his brother's hair, "We will be alright somehow."

"When?"

"I don't know. But we will. The end is always good. If it's not good, it's not the end."

Then he began to sing with a soft voice while softly stroking his brother: "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen an dem blauen Himmelszelt? …"

A/N: Since a while I have the feeling that something in the world is breaking apart. I thought compassion and sharing were international values. Berthold Brecht seems to be right with his drama "Der gute Mensch von Sezuan". Who is morally good will be used, who is egoistic and reckless wins. I might be exaggerating a little, but I believe this is necessary to make people understand.

This is no accusation, this is a cry for help.