Authors note: Once again, "Kulta" is Finnish for "Darling" and "Lintu" means "Bird". I don't own, so don't sue. Never happened and never will (Damn it Ville and Lauri, hurry up and get together lmao! Jk). I don't know the people and don't make any money from this, I write it for fun annnnd etc… Lets continue on now lol. I'm kind of ignoring real statistics for this chapter (I know, I know) and I'm going to tell everyone to presume Ville and Lauri are the same age (or at least born in the same year), even though they're not in real life… I'm sorry, please don't murder me lol. Italics mean that it's Ville's thoughts.
Chapter 3
I remembered the time when we sat on the park bench, waiting for the sun to set. We were ten years old and you came to my house that day after your father beat you again. I didn't have to ask you what happened; I'd already guessed from the moment I saw you standing on my doorstep. We walked idly to the park near my house, neither of us speaking. We sat on the bench for what seemed like hours, just waiting for the sun to set. I knew that the different colours of the sunset always made you smile, but not that day. Some days you put on a brave face for me, because you knew I was worried about you, and scared for you more than anything. I used to tell you to come and live with me, because that would surely have solved all of your problems, but you knew better. I wish I'd known better too.
I remembered the time when I first kissed you. We were thirteen. Even though it was so many years ago, I remembered every detail of that moment. I remembered the soft, green grass by the lake, covered in golden brown leaves. I remembered the smell of the cold autumn breeze. I could remember lying next to you and wrapping my arms around you because you were cold. If I thought hard enough, I could still remember every line on your face. I would never forget the devotion that I saw in your eyes that day… but even now - I still regret some of that day. You used to walk me home before you went home by yourself, but that day I insisted on walking you home first, even though you really protested. I still don't know why I hugged you before I left, but I'm still sorry that I did. I never had any doubt in my mind that you got that black eye because your father saw us together.
I would never forget the time that you saved me. I remembered walking across the railing of the bridge with you, casually talking about anything that came to mind. You were always so graceful, and I was always so clumsy. I remembered accidentally slipping and falling off the bridge and into the lake and you jumped in after me. I couldn't swim and would have drowned, but you grabbed me and pulled me out of the water. I would never, ever forget that day.
I would always remember the day that I started calling you "Lintu". When we were at the park you went walking into the trees and came back with a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. You were always so drawn to birds; it just seemed like an appropriate nickname for you. You wrapped the tiny, featherless bird up in your shirt and took it home with you. You kept it hidden in your bedroom and used to take it outside when your father was at work. It became your pet, and it was obviously very devoted to you. You loved that bird. It used to just sit on your shoulder when you took it outside, so you would bring it with you to my house when you visited because it would never fly away. We went to the park with the bird and talked for hours, and the bird never left you during that entire time. I could never forget how you sobbed in my arms when I saw you the next day, after your father had found out about the bird and snapped its neck.
I couldn't deny that over the years I got more worried about you, but I would never have admitted it to you, because it made you sad to know that I spent my time worrying about you instead of looking after myself. I would never tell you this, but sometimes I still had nightmares about all those years ago. I was haunted by nightmares after you tried to commit suicide. That period in time was one I would never forget, even though I sincerely wished every single day that I could. All the times I saw you covered in black and yellow bruises with a cut lip or a black eye – they all burned into my memory. Thinking back, I had no doubt that every time you went home after visiting me, you got beaten for coming to see me. If your father didn't commit suicide when he did – I probably would've killed him myself.
I felt Lauri stir in his sleep. It had been another sleeplessness night for me. I just lied on the bed, listening to Lauri talk in his sleep. I could feel sleep trying to claim me again, but I knew that I couldn't sleep, no matter how desperately I may have needed to. I sighed as I rolled onto my side. Lauri was sleeping on his side with his back to me. I slid closer to him and wrapped my arm around his slender waist. I pulled away from him slightly when I felt his body jerk abruptly. Lauri's mumbling got louder, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. I shook Lauri gently, trying to wake him.
"Lauri," I whispered, "wake up, Lauri."
Lauri gasped slightly as his eyes flew open, he instinctively pushed me away from him.
"It's okay, darling, it's just me." I told him quietly in Finnish
Lauri sighed in relief after hearing my words. It wasn't unusual for him to wake up in a panic and not realise it was me next to him. I knew that he always had nightmares, so when he woke up he usually didn't realise straight away that he was in bed with me at Castle Bam and not in Finland anymore.
Lauri let himself fall onto his back, still breathing heavily. I propped myself up on my elbow next to him and placed my hand on his arm. I expected him to pull away from me, as he often did, but he didn't this time.
"Was it the same dream again?" I asked him quietly in Finnish.
Lauri nodded and sighed heavily. He pulled himself upright and swung his legs over the side of the bed. I watched him as he stood up and walked into bathroom, quietly closing the door behind him. I exhaled deeply as I sunk into my pillow. I closed my eyes; I just needed a moment to rest. I'd had so little sleep that even just closing my eyes for a moment filled me with an overwhelming sense of relief.