BiteBound *completed*

Chapter 43

I asked Anne not to mention about my progress to Arthur. When the time would come, I would tell him on my own; when I felt mentally ready. For now, I needed to keep resting.

Now that I had a hint of my emotions back, it was hard not to think about everything Arthur and I endured. From the past, to the present, to the way how we react towards one another.

Like the fool that I am, deep down, I wanted to still keep fighting for Arthur. That kind of emotion was exactly what I was afraid of.

I didn't want to keep fighting anymore. I was so tired of the emotional mess before, why would I want to end up in that tangled web again?

I can't keep do this to myself anymore. I stare up at the dim ceiling. Fuck, I'll admit it. I still want him. But I can't keep trying. It's not good for me and I'll only keep getting hurt. It's all on him now.

I still felt the dreadful weight keeping me bound to bed; but for once, I actually felt hungry for dinner than ever before. It was this very day that I had a proper dinner of roasted chicken and potatoes.

My body couldn't help but break into a small sob when I tasted the love in Anne's cooking, Feeling the regret of how I didn't appreciate her efforts enough. She's done nothing but try her best to make me feel right at home and I only ever focused on Arthur and my work.

I should get her something, a thank you gift of some kind, but what?

Once I had my bath and crawled back into bed with Happy... Dandy... Cat, I let myself sink into my safe space when Arthur had finally woke up.

Per usual, he released Anne from her duties and remained in the room with me.

"So you finally found your way inside hm?" Humor lifted the tone in Arthur's voice. "Come here Dandy."

Dandy didn't dare move from his resting spot over my head. While my rested head remained fixed on the velvet chair by the door, Dandy rested his head back on top of mine.

"Fat and lazy as always."

The corner of my mouth lifted a little, agreeing with that statement.

I was curious to know what he was going to do today. Was he going to paint? Read out loud? Draw?

It was neither of those things.

To my surprise, he went to his walk in closet to pull out a large cello case. He took a seat on the chair by the door, keeping his eyes away from me as he set up his yellowheart wooded instrument. He tightened and resined his matching bow, tuning his cello by ear before finally placing his bow down at the ready. Instantly, I knew what he was playing. The Carnival of The Animals: The Swan.

The way he played was flawless. He didn't need a back up piano to pour out the emotion through his instrument, he just did. Moving his body in a way to express the feelings deep within the music.

The sound was so soft— angelic as it brought warmth to my chest. The moment I closed my eyes to take in it's magical notes, words whispered into my mind.

I'm sorry.

Wether the apology was from him or from myself to him, the translation was there. That's when I caught him looking at me.

I miss you... My heart yearned. Damn it, I can't even hold back from the truth...

The song then smoothly transitioned to Fur Elise; a song that I knew on my violin.

My fingers started to move along my pillow, plucking the imaginary strings to the beat.

Bum-bum-bum-bum... Bum-bum-bum-bum... Bum-bum-bum-bum... la-da-de-da-de-da Bum-bum-bum-bum...