Schrei So Laut Du Kannst

"Yes. Who are you?"

"Ich heiße Katy. Ist Bill oder Tom hier?"

"Ja. Folgen Sie mir bitte."

She led me through the beautiful home, and I looked at all the pictures, giggling quietly at the babies shown. She nodded once.

"They grow up so fast."

"They are amazing young men."

"I only hope they remain that way. Here you are."

"Danke." I pushed open the door to see the boys still sleeping in their beds. "Oh, mein gott."

Their mother left me alone then, and I gazed around the room before deciding to crawl into Tom's bed with him. He mumbled but remained asleep. Slowly, I drifted into unconsciousness.

"Katy?"

Tom was sitting next to me when I opened my eyes---or at least one of them. The other was swollen shut.

"Oh, mein gott, Katy. What happened?" Bill whispered.

"Three guesses and the first two don't count."

"Bill, go get Mom."

"You get Mom."

"I'm staying with Katy."

"No, I am."

"Boys, your friends are here. Oh, gott! Are you alright, Katy?"

"I'm okay."

"I'll be right back."

"Hey, Gustav. Hey, Moritz."

"I thought it was Hagen," I quipped dryly, and the other three laughed. "Hi, Georg."

"This is Katy?"

"Yep."

"Here is some ice, sweetie. Did you father do this to you?"

I glared at the twins as best as I could through my good eye. "You told her?"

"She is our mother. Please don't get mad."

"I guess I'm not." I sighed. "Yeah, it was my dad."

"Well, you're not going back."

"That would make you a kidnapper."

"Not if you're willing to stay here."

"Of course I am."

"Then it's final."

A smile spread across my face. "Danke."

Later that night, the swelling had gone down considerably, but it was still painful. I met Gordon and found him to be an interesting character. Dinner was food I didn't recognise yet rathered not know what it was composed of. I was sure I would not like what I learned. Simone (as she insisted me call her) would not allow me to help her clean up and instead suggested I cath up with the twins. In their room, I re-read all the letters I had recieved from them in chronological order.

Dear, Katy,
I miss you. Well, Bill does too, but I miss you more. We finished another song today. "1000 Meere" I hope you'll be able to hear it soon. How are you? How are you holding up at home? I hope your dad hasn't hit your mother. Or you. Especially not you. We care too much for that to happen.

Katy---Hallo! It's Bill. Obviously, since my writing in neater than Tom's. WE MISS YOU!!!! Come visit soon! Or come live with us! I would gladly sleep on the floor for you to have a bed. ... It's weird (still) not going to bed with you and waking up with you. Tom's not a good sleeping companion. I am just kidding. But honestly. I want you to meet my parents. I'm sure they would LOVE you, just like Tom and I do.

To Katy,
It's great to here you're doing fine. But if that is true, then why do your letters and e-mails have such a sad undertone? I can tell you're trying to fake happiness or even normality, and it's not working...Another song was finished today. "Rette Mich"--- Rescue Me in English. You might like it.
I love you! ---Tom

"Katy? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. So when can I hear these songs that you listed?"

"Tomorrow."

"Good."

"Time for bed. Would you prefer to sleep alone, Katy, or in here?"

"In here, if that's okay?"

"Of course, dear. Guten nacht, you three."

"Night, Mutti."

"Night, Simone."

I pressed against Tom as Bill crawled onto the mattress to lie next to me. They kissed my cheeks in unison, causing me to grin widely, and I sighed in bliss.

"Thanks, both of you."

"I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too."