The Strings of a Violin

10. Mariya

Being in bed or sitting in that awful God for saken wheelchair was getting on my nerves. I longed to walk again since sitting on my butt all day was getting uncomfortable.

I had to lie to Kito and pretend I was okay that I wouldn't be able to walk again. I would 'smile' through it like I always do.

I know it was wrong to do that, but don't get me wrong, I really wanted to get better.

Ellie came into my room with my tray of medicines and my lunch. Instead of being on two medicines, I was now on four making it a pain to get through the day without falling asleep.

It didn't really matter to Kito either way because he got to spend the day with me. Eventually he would have to go back to school and I would only see him on the weekend.

I didn't want to think about that so I tried not to.

I was watching tv and taking my medicine when Kito returned from the bathroom. "Have a nice time in there?" I asked him taking my last pill.

He gave me a fake laugh before pushing his black mop of hair out of his face and sliding on to the bed next to me. "Sure, what show is this?"

"Black Butler, I assume you've never seen it then."

"Nope," he bit his lip, "I was never allowed to watch tv at my house. I only did if I got to go to someone else's house."

I made a shocked face and he laughed. "Save your pity Mariya."

"It's not pity, I'm just surprised."

"So this Black Butler show, what's it about?"

My eyes lit up. "You actually want to know?"

"Yeah," he said looking at me like I was crazy.

"Well, it's about a 12 year old boy that sold his soul to a demon who is also his butler and secretly his 'boyfriend' tsk tsk."

"Is the last part true?"

"I wish, but sadly it's not cannon. .  . For now," I joked.

Kito sat his head on my shoulder and watched the screen intently, absorbing everything that was going on.

"So the little boy is Ciel and the tall one is his butler, who's name is Sebastian?" Kito asked after only ten minutes of watching.

"Yeah that's correct, but since you're a newbie we should start on the first episode."

"That makes sense," he said snuggling into my side.

"You comfortable there?"

"Yep," Kito said popping the 'p'.

Eventually I fell asleep from my medications and Kito fell asleep beside me from staring at the tv for probably two hours or more. I slept peacefully for once in my life, I felt safe.

Ellie came in during dinner and woke me up to take the last of my medications with my meal. "I see you've become great friends with Kito, I'm sure you both are enjoying each other's company," she said smiling at us while fixing her caramel brown hair.

"Ellie?"

"Yes Miss Mariya?"

"I need help getting to the bathroom. I'd like to clean up and stuff, if you know what I mean."

"Of course, let me run you a bath and I'll be right back to get you," Ellie said going into the bathroom. If you don't know, Ellie is very strong and used to carry me around in the hospital when I was on certain medications that made me to tired to function.

I always tell her that it's just a burden for her to, but she doesn't listen. She insists that it just keeps her in shape, which it does so her argument was something not to argue.

I looked up and saw that the tv was still playing Black Butler. I paused it and waited for Ellie to come back and get me for my bath.

She appeared with an apron to cover her uniform and sweeped me off of the bed and into the bath tub full of bubbles.

Ellie clipped my hair up on top of my head so it didn't get wet and went to work scrubbing me clean. She was gentle but firm and knew where my bruises were and avoided touching them.

"Okay Miss Mariya, let's get you up and out of that tub now," Ellie said pulling the drain on the tub and handing me a towel to wrap around me shoulders.

"You didn't think this through, did you Ellie?"

"No, I did. It'll just be. . . a little tricky," she trailed off. I put my hands on the thick wall of the tub and shimmed my butt onto the ledge and pulled myself up.

"Now," she looked back at me surprised, "you do the rest."

"Of course Miss Mariya," she said beaming with happiness and humor.

The rest of the night was quiet except for the snoring of Kito beside me. I held his hand tight in mine with no sign of letting go anytime soon. Ellie came and went as she pleased to check up on me, and brought an extra pillow for Kito and draped a blanket around his shoulders.

"I wouldn't let this one get away Miss Mariya," Ellie whispered into my ear. I blushed and layed down to go to sleep finally. "Goodnight darling."

"Goodnight Ellie, thank you for your help today," she smiled gratefully and closed the door behind her with a click.

I looked over to the young boy beside me who was sound asleep. "You'll always be more than a friend to me Kito. Always."