East Berlin's June Boat Song

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How do you know it's New Year's Eve?

Fumbling to turn on the radio Andy had given me, I held it up and paced the room, hoping to pick up some signal.Sure enough, the Soviets were still good at communication. Soon after, the radio began to emit some intermittent sounds, and then the signal gradually stabilized, and a New Year's song began to be sung.

I smiled, turned off the radio, and waited for my last supper.

Not long after, the dinner was delivered from the bottom of the cell door. It was not clear who was outside, only a click of the cell door was heard, and then there was no movement.

I was extremely nervous, and waited on the bed for a while, then tiptoed over and put my ear on the door, and after confirming that there was no one outside, I gently opened the door, a trace of pale light rushed towards the icy air instantly.

I took a deep breath, and tears welled up in an instant.

There's nothing I'm taking with me here, just the radio.So with the radio in my pocket, I walked out of the cell door lightly, walked through the dark and cold corridor, climbed up the steep stairs, and finally... After eight months, eight full months, I saw a ray of moonlight.

Clear and faint, the silver-white moonlight with dust floating in it seeps in through the glass window.

I burst into tears and covered my mouth in a hurry.Hot tears fell on the back of my hand, I understand that this is called freedom and hope.

From the beginning to the end, without looking back, I ran across the yard and out of the white mansion. In the cold night of minus ten degrees, I ran!On the empty road with only street lights standing, I run!Among the Internationale faintly floating in the wind, I run!

Tears condensed on my face, the new wind cut my whole body aching, I ran!

Run out of this place and never come back!

In the distance, a black forest appeared in front of me. Under the bright moonlight, it seemed to be swaying in the wind and beckoning to me. I seemed to be able to see George under the tree, stand on tiptoe and watch me waiting for my George!

I run!

But why?

Why am I running, but with a loud noise, I fly up?

Why did blood gushes out of my throat in an instant, and the severe pain suppressed all mobility, making me unable to even squirm on the ground?

I turned my back to the sky, looking at the moon, and before I could be overwhelmed by despair, a familiar face appeared before my eyes.

Holding a sniper rifle, he pretended to be worried but couldn't hide his smug smile. He knelt down and stroked my face, shaking his head with regret, and his slender eyes were full of complex expressions.

Oh, it's you, I almost forgot about you—Evgeny.

"I still wondered why a wild boar ran out of the woods? It turned out to be you, little Rhine."

"But where are you going? No, no, no, Rhine, you can't go. You still have value, and a lot of value. Of course, maybe I think differently from them, but who knows? It's nothing more than Just to confirm the conjecture.

He laughed, and there was a frightening coldness in his eyes, and then he stood up and shouted loudly and urgently: "It's not good! Someone has been hurt! Call an ambulance!"

The guard went away and poked me with the butt of his gun.

"Little Rhine who can't die, I think your dear Sasha will perform the operation on you personally."

He hummed twice and stopped talking.I opened my eyes weakly and looked at him—Evgeny, who I thought was my friend, never showed me the slightest pity.

Sighing, the blood in his throat hissed out.To be honest, I really wish I was a wild boar and died completely under his gun.

Then it's all over.

I used to fantasize about operating with Sasha in surgical gowns, but I never imagined that he would operate on me.How much I wanted to admire his appearance during the operation, but he mercilessly used up enough anesthetics, leaving only his voice calling for me.

Echoing in my mind, echoing, Sasha's voice.

I can't hate him after all.

So I opened my eyes, hoping to see Sasha in Twilight when we first met.Presumably God the Father heard my prayer, I really saw——

In the spacious and bright ward, Sasha stood by the bed, leaned against the wall and fell asleep.The winter sunset coated his hair and eyelashes with light gold, the lines of his face were softened by the light, and his soft lips were as translucent as orange blossoms. This scene brought me back to the clinic many years ago.

He said, you are so strange, why do you apologize every time I see you?

I pursed my lips and smiled, because I did too many wrong things.

So I have to apologize.

But then I thought, the person I should apologize the most is myself.

Sasha's eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his shiny brown eyes. The sunlight made him blink unconsciously. The next second, he met my gaze.

"You're awake." He stroked my hair with a smile, and then said, "Be quiet first, let me see you."

With a bit of shame, he said, "You know what? Operating on you is the most stressful operation I've ever done in my life. Even though it's just taking out a bullet, I can't help shaking my hands."

"Because it was your skin that was cut..." His eyes turned red, "However, when I think of opening such a hole in your heart, I can't forgive myself at all."

He leaned forward and kissed my lips, tears fell on my eyes, and tremblingly said: "So, I'm sorry, Rhine, maybe I have to leave you for a while. After all, I am a coward, oh, Rhine... ...Don't cry, I will come back, I only hope that you have forgiven me then, maybe, you will never forgive me."

I wanted to keep him, but I couldn't, the vocal cords seemed to be on strike at this moment, so I saw him go.

He's gone, he's really gone.

But why should I care?He was just one of many people who took advantage of me.

But Sasha... oh... Sasha...

He left in the twilight, and another person came in the twilight.

He sat next to my bed, his military uniform was straight, his silver hair under his hat had grown a bit longer, his face was still cold, there was no superfluous expression, only a trace of fatigue loomed in his eyes, and his eyes were tight. Lips made him appear to be restrained.

After a long silence, he opened his mouth to speak.

"I know you don't want to see me, and I don't want you to be stimulated."

"It's enough for me to suffer once you get sick..."

"So, there has to be a time when it gets better. If this place is so unbearable for you, then I will take you away."

Julian caressed my face and whispered in my ear, "Do you still remember the promise I made to you? I said I would take you to the Soviet Union. Let me take you there...to my country and Sasha's country, to the See the fir forests in Siberia, go to Lake Baikal to see the orange-red sunset, see the sunset wandering in the golden fields, and see the red morning light in the apple trees..."

"I'll take you there without further delay."

His voice was trembling, and he slowly hugged me in his arms, his movements were very gentle, like caring for an expensive and exquisite porcelain.

"You are tired, and I am too... Rhine, let everything pass..."

"Let's start over, shall we?"

I leaned on his neck, closed my eyes, and could feel his carotid artery throbbing vigorously.He is so powerful, so high above everything, but he pretends to be asking me, as if he really wants to ask for my opinion.

It's probably just to impress myself.

I didn't answer, so he rubbed my hair, kissed my forehead, and muttered to himself: "Then I agree."

He put his hand inside my hospital gown and put it on my left chest.

After a long time, he smiled reassuringly.

"That's great, you still have me here."

"I can feel it."