Inspired: Boats and Birds by Gregory and the Hawk
Boats and Birds
Canada leaned against Prussia and wrapped the threadbare blue blanket tighter around them. The two of them were sitting on the tailgate of a rusting red pickup truck parked in the middle of a sea of sunflowers and watching meteors streak across midnight skies.
Prussia set his chin on the top of his head and wound their fingers together. His hands were wrinkled with age, weathered and gnarled but warm. So warm.
Time was slipping through their grasp and both of them knew it. Prussia was getting older as his kingdom disappeared into the dust and dreams of scholars. Forgotten.
There was not a lot of time left, not for him and not for them, but this one moment was gentle and perfect and theirs.
The wind danced through the sunflowers as it swept past them.
Canada sighed.
He knew that he would have to let Prussia go, and soon, but he could not imagine a world without him.
"Stop thinking about it," Prussia said. His voice rasped with a millennium worth of use. It was catching up with him. It was all catching up with him.
"I'm not," Canada pouted. Prussia knew what he was thinking about even when he could not see his face. Granted, that was all he thought about as of late, but he would miss that closeness and understanding when the other nation disappeared.
"You are a terrible liar."
"I am not."
"Yes," Prussia laughed and kissed the top of head, "You are. But I love you anyway."
The meteors twinkled and plummeted around them. The earth smelt of rain and rotting leaves and the beginning of autumn. Canada snuggled against his chest.
The wind was cold and his thoughts were colder but Prussia was warm. So warm.
His laughter trailed off into hacking coughs that reminded them both that their time was almost up. Canada squeezed his hand and Prussia squeezed back but he continued coughing. He could not stop.
Canada looked out over the sea of wilting sunflowers and watched the meteors vanish behind the horizon.
It seemed that all good things must come to an end.
Author's Notes:
Because all good things must come to an end. That said, who would like something a bit more cheerful next time? Raise your hand!
This is rather short but I wanted to kick off another week of 'Inspired' pieces. Please send requests. And cookies… Send cookies. Strawberry requested Boats and Birds by Gregory and the Hawk.