The Wall that Separates Us

Sledge hammers collide with the menacing wall, bringing fragments of the graffiti stone to the ground. The arrogant Russian pricks have disappeared leaving the East Berliners to their own free will.  But right now I honestly don't care, all I want to do is destroy this god-forsaken wall and find my family.
~
28 years ago on the 11th of August 1961, my mother and little brother went to visit family in West Berlin. He and mum and were expected back on the 13th. But me and Dad woke to our hearts being broken. Overnight a wall had been built separating West from East, us from family, separating Ludwig from me.
~
I've been passed a hammer. I put all the emotion I've felt in the past 28 years into strong, precise hits. Anger, pain and sorrow are a lethal mix. Memories of the last day I saw Ludwig, or Dad getting shot when I was fifteen, he never survived; these memories drive my force as well. I grew up alone and abandoned, but grew strong and defiant. Shouts and cries of joy erupt around us, as a man breaks though the wall; its deafing but it's the greatest thing I've ever heard.
"LET'S BRING IT DOWN!" I shout for all to hear, cheers erupt from both sides of the wall. From where we are we can hear the West Berliners hacking at the wall as well. Would Ludwig be there? He turned 33 this year and I 35, every year I celebrated his birthday – not giving into the fact that he could be dead.
Cracks develop above our heads; the wall is starting to weaken. In no time at all it crumbles above us, debris flying around our heads as radiant West light floods where we stand.
After 20 minutes of enthusiastic destruction, East Berliners swarm though the new gateway. Already families are being reunited, but where is mine? I try my luck; I cup my hands around my mouth and yell. "LUDWIG! LUDWIG BEILSCHMIDT!" All the confusion around me drowns out my voice. He has to be, my baby brother can't be dead. "LUDWIG WHERE ARE YOU?", nothing. I hang my head in defeat. Warm tears balance on the edge of my eye lids.
"Gilbert" 'Just leave me alone' I think to myself "Gilbert" My tears flow freely now.
"Gilbert Beilschmidt!" My head lifts up, that wasn't a hallucination.
My eyes dart everywhere; searching the crowd of people. "Ludwig!"
"Gilbert!" The voice comes from my right and I turn shocked by what I see; that's Ludwig running towards me less than 60 metres away. He looks just as he did 28 years ago, only grown up. With all my strength, I sprint towards him. We smash into each other in a bone braking hug. No works can express my happiness.
"I missed you" I whisper. He nods in agreement. He had grown strong without a father's influence, as I had grown to care without a mother's love. Ludwig's eyes search the crowd. "He died Ludwig, he was shot instead of me, I got my sorry ass into a protest and he stepped in to protect me."
"So did she" Ludwig's voice deep with sorrow "from illness only five years ago" My heart sinks.
"But we still have each other" I say to him. He smiles and it brings back my whole soul. Ludwig leads me out of the crowd. Together again.