Last Winter's Snow by Hans M Hirschi

Author:Hans M Hirschi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, gay, family, hiv, aids, discrimination, culture, heritage, sweden, sami
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

* * * * *

1995

Do You Take…

It was a beautiful and sunny day in early July when Nilas and Casper got married, or entered their “registered partnership,” as the law decreed. They had found a registrar, an amazing old man, who, despite his eighty-plus years, had welcomed the new law and was thrilled to be able to officiate the ceremony for the two young men. He’d even invited them to his house, where he’d grilled them about the sanctity of the institution they were about to enter, and whether they were truly committed to one another and fully understood what it meant to get married.

“Now, I understand that for now, the state is calling this a registered partnership. But we all know that this is marriage we are talking about, nothing less. And in time, I am convinced that you will be able to call it marriage, too. Society at large just needs to be given some time to catch up, to understand that we, as a people, need to evolve, and that there is no danger emanating from two men or two women loving each other. None at all.” From behind his large old wooden desk, he spoke slowly and gravely, while Nilas and Casper sat in front of him, holding hands, like children called to the principal’s office.

Nilas was nervous, and not quite comfortable with the questioning he had been subjected to, but as they left the old man’s house and walked home, he felt good. For the first time, he felt the impact of what it meant to get married, and the reality of the decision they’d made began to sink in.

“This is really happening,” he said giddily. “Are you still sure you want to do this? The registrar had some really good points to make about the sacrifices that marriage constitutes.”

“Of course I do!” Casper said, louder than necessary. “Listen, Nilas, we’ve been living as if we were married for over a decade. Just because we don’t own a piece of paper that says so doesn’t mean we haven’t been there for each other already, for better or worse. Remember how you gave up your job, your career, to come to Gothenburg with me? Remember the assault? How you were walking on crutches for weeks, and how I had to not only do my job but also look after the house, the garden, and you? To me, that is what marriage vows are really about. To do things together, as one, a couple. Giving, receiving, compromising.”

“Yeah, but this will make it official.”

Casper laughed. “Well, isn’t that what we want?”

“I do, I really do. I want to be able to hold your hand walking down Avenyn, I want to be able to kiss you outside the train when you go away or when you come back, without shame or risk of being beaten to a pulp.”

“Oh, beäjvviebájttuo, then let’s not talk about this anymore. I want nothing else, either,” Casper said and took Nilas’s hand in his.

***

Now,

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