Memories of service during the war were the burden itself. He didn't like to remember that. He was about 17-18 when he had to enlist and now after the end of the war he was in his early 20's. He tried not to remember the war. After all, he was lucky to escape alive and got the chance to rebuild into normal life.
But recently, however, the war in which the young man fought reminded, but otherwise than he would expect. This happened so sudden during a corporate celebration when he had a chance to be with her straight up in work as he had a chance to invite her and be with her. The young clerk completely lignifed himself while standing at the table with her and drinking wine at the moment. It weren't some traumatic memories of war, but music.
"George, George, are you okay?" She asked and touched his hand.
George then returned back into reality as he heard her voice and felt her touch.
"Y-yes, I am Meg." He then continued and sighed "I just remember hearing this song when I was in the war, and I didn't expect to hear it here. It hit hard after a few years the war is gone."
They both then turned their eyes to the crowd helding hands as they started to listen to the lyrics.
Vor der Kaserne vor dem großen Tor
Stand eine Laterne
Und steht sie noch davor
So woll'n wir uns da wiedersehn
Bei der Laterne woll'n wir stehn
Wie einst
Lili Marleen
Wie einst
Lili Marleen
He then also decided that this is probably the right time to tell her more about his service as a US troop in World War II.
"This song was often played hostile soldiers, Wehrmacht and SS units. I heard it first from hostages when the unit I was in liberated a base. It played on their radio. Unexpectedly, after what all what I've been through this song was surprisingly good, so much good that even other soldiers of Allies started playing it themselves. So I have good memories on this song despite the war itself was hell. The song's name Lili Marleen."
She looked at him with smile after she heard it is actually his favourite song.
"Come dance. After all, you like the song." She said and as he was putting the glass down she led him to dance in the middle of the crowd.
He held her hands as they danced and closed his eyes for a while, remembering the times he heard Lili Marleen as a soldier in war, almost slowly murmuring the lyrics for himself as he was able to speak decent German.
He then looked her with smile as they danced helding her hands. As more as he was remembering what the song was about actually, the more it was getting relatable to him after he met her.
When they kissed on mouth he remembered one of the Nazis' propaganda military posters showing a young soldier kissing a woman he was in love with with the song's name, Lili Marleen written down. Despite how crazy the comparison was now and that he was a US Allies soldier, remembering the poster by now it felt that he was the soldier and she was the woman from the poster.
After the kiss ended, it took him only about a few seconds that he found his Lili Marleen. He didn't knew how to react as he realized the song he heard in the war was essentially about him and Meg. It was just crazy.
Schon rief der Posten: Sie blasen Zapfenstreich;
Es kann drei Tage kosten! - Kam'rad
Ich komm ja gleich
Da sagten wir auf Wiedersehn
Wie gerne wollt' ich mit dir gehn
Mit dir
Lili Marleen
Mit dir
Lili Marleen
"Meg, this song is about us 2, I feel it." He said while dancing with her "Meg?"
"I imagined you in uniform for a moment," she smiled "You had to be brave. You had to do. And that song. I like it."
He smiled and they continued dancing.
Aus dem stillen Raume
Aus der Erde Grund
Hebt mich wie im Traume dein verliebter Mund
Wenn sich die späten Nebel drehn
Werd' ich bei der Laterne stehn
Wie einst
Lili Marleen
Wie einst
Lili Marleen
The song was approaching the end and the young World War II veteran stopped dancing with his partner when the song ended.
George almost had a mental breakdown when he saw his ex-boss was here. He was fired for making and throwing up paper planes, but if he didn't, he wouldn't be able to be with her.
"Young man, what are you doing here?" His ex boss asked as he came to him.
"What are you doing here? This should be another firm."
"George, is this the boss who fired you because of your effort to see me again?" She asked
"Y-yes," he replied.
"I watched the young you dance and listened to Lili Marleen. I remember for the time when it was a poem during the Great War. At that time, writing paper was rare, let alone ink."
George at the moment had ton of questions regarding his ex boss.
"Give me a moment," he said as he held her hand talking to his former boss "You fought in the Great War?"
"I did, Great War and World War II can't be compared."
"So you both guys are vets?" Meg asked.
"It looks like it," George answered the question
"I too have memories on Lili Marleen from World War II. So does most of the employees here." The boss said and he explained "Most of them are young men, World War II veterans, boys who lost fathers in the Great War. They like to remember that song."
"Wie einst Lili Marleen, wie einst Lili Marleen.."
"George?" She spoke to him as she heard him.
"I sang the song silently myself," He responded as he was back again in the reality.
"So this corporate event is probably such a secret meeting of veterans as I see," Meg added.
"You're not wrong lady." The boss added "I like to these events, whether if they are from any company, I can go to talk to others what they had to fight too. I fought in both world wars so I can compare."
"If you're this old, shouldn't you be retired by now?" George curiously asked his former boss from the office.
"I will retire in 6 years, meanwhile I have more time to think about life and lead the younger generation in the right direction."
When George heard "the right direction", he had immediately a question regarding the box of documents he got after making a first paper plane as he was trying to get in contact with Meg after their first meeting.
"Did you knew that I have a crush on her and gave me the box with the paper on purpose?" He immediately asked, but boss shaked his head.
"You got the work you had to finish, but you did what you did, this wasn't me, but apparently fate."
"Even though," George continued "I'm happy it happened."
The boss then looked at both of them.
"Youth, don't waste your time with your company and go, this is your evening," He said and continued "Youth passes quickly and as it is once away, it is not going to go back. Do not touch in your free time work and politics, and enjoy youth and time together."
"Should we go Meg?" He then turned at her.
"He is probably right, I think so it'll be better than just standing here."
Young couple was returning home in night time New York with laughter. The young veteran and his love tended to each other much more than before. Meg was George's Lili Marleen.
Wie einst
Lili Marleen
Wie einst
Lili Marleen