The day he left, the flowers had begun to bloom again. The wind whipped the skirt of my borrowed dress around. He gazed back at me with such sad eyes. Both he and I knew that we couldn't be together. We shouldn't. Not now. I didn't want him to forget me. I gave him a pair of my bloomers He blushed furiously, but accepted my parting gift. He had gently pressed his lips to mine. The sweet moment ended as he ran away. He said he'd loved me. That he had from the 9th century. But it didn't matter. I didn't want to see him get hurt. I headed back to Austria's house, feeling more alone than the time they brought me here for the first time.
Hungary met me at the door. She could see the tear stains on my face. She embraced me, and I cried into her apron. She tried to comfort me. "That silly boy. It's really for the best. If Holy Rome knew the truth, he would be so heartbroken. It's mostly my fault, I think. If I hadn't dressed you up like a girl, you probably wouldn't be hurting so much. Oh, it's such a shame that you're a boy."
"Why would being a boy matter so much? When you lose someone you love, it always hurts."
"I forgot. Your family is a bit more…liberal. I really don't think Holy Rome would love you in the same way if you were a boy. They don't approve of that sort of love." When she saw the look on my face, she added on, "But I could be wrong. He could love you all the same."
I didn't know much of love. Compared to the other countries around me, I was still pretty naïve. All I knew was that I felt so much better with Holy Rome than with anyone else. And when he was gone, I felt such emptiness. It made me want to change my mind. It made me want to join him, wherever he disappeared to.
"Hey, Idiota, aren't you so happy that I came to visit you. Oy, Veneziano, what's wrong? Who was picking on you this time? No one messes with my little sister and gets away with it!" I gave Romano a weak smile. He was one of the only people who knew my secret. Grandpa Rome told everyone I was a boy to discourage some of my more …indulgent relatives. This only led me to get picked on for being such a weak and girly boy. Romano had tried to protect me for a while, but we had gotten separated during all the wars. I wouldn't be able to keep up this charade much longer.
"Holy Rome left me. I don't know where he went," I sniffled.
"Oh, that potato eating bastard? Good riddance. You know he only liked you for Grandpa Rome's inheritance, right."
"Don't say that, Romano! I miss him so much," I started crying again.
"All right, just stop crying. Look I snatched a box of tomatoes from Spain's house! Would you believe he left this perfectly good box of tomatoes in the middle of nowhere? You want some?" I wiped away my tears and nodded. Romano opened the crate and offered me the first tomato. I eagerly bit down into the fruit, the juices rushing into my mouth.
"WHO DARES STEALS MY TOMATOES!" The box of tomatoes started quaking. The tomato in my hand liquefied, staining my hand and clothes. The tomatoes left in the box melted as well, seeping onto the floor. Out of the red liquid came a blood red fairy. Both Romano and I were paralyzed with fear. She turned her crimson face towards me.
"YOU ARE MARKED WITH YOUR SIN! OMATAY YATOMA XINOB, I CURSE THEE!," she screamed and disappeared.
I quivered even with Romano's arms wrapped around me. He kept on murmuring to me, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I swear I'll kill that Spaniard for tricking me. You're alright. You'll be fine." That's how Austria found us.
"Italy, I heard a racket… well look at the mess you made. Hungary take care of Italy while I clean up." Hungary started carrying me to the bathroom.
"Wait, let me…let me take care of my brother." Romano attempted to get up. Even through all that he was desperate to protect my secret. He couldn't even stand properly. But that was better off than me. I still couldn't seem to find my voice.
"I don't know what happened, but you two seem pretty shaken up. Don't worry; I can handle this much at least," Hungary said, trying to comfort me.
Hungary stripped me of my clothes and sunk me into the warm water. The friendly bubbles embraced and caressed my body.
"Can you handle things from here? I think Austria will need assistance cleaning up." Hungary looked at me, but I didn't respond. Convinced I wasn't going to drown without her assistance, she exited the bathroom to help Mr. Austria clean the tomato stains.
I sat there numb for a while. The shock still settling. The fear wondering what exactly the fairy had cursed me with. I finally remembered that something should have happened. Hungary should have discovered my secret. I would have expected her to be a bit more surprised. The bubbles abandoned me, and I peered at the pink water.
I let out a scream. Hungary came rushing into the bathroom door.
"Is everything all right?" she asked frantic. I attempted to cover myself. The bubbles could no longer hide me. A slight blush colored her face.
"Everything is f-f-fine," I stammered, "I was…just letting out some frustration. You can go."
"Alright, I'll give you some privacy." She closed the door behind her.
Through the door I could hear Romano.
"Let me be with Veneziano! I'm fine now! Let me through!" he insisted. His voice sounded hoarse.
"Alright, maybe you brothers can calm yourselves down," Hungary told him and let him through the door.
"Broth…?" Romano started, realizing before I did what Hungary should have known. He stared wide-eyed at me, concentrating at the foreign thing between my legs.
I gave a weak smile. "I guess I really am your brother now."