The Strings of a Violin

13. Kito

I sat amused as Mariya opened her birthday presents. She had the biggest grin on her face that I've ever seen, and she clutched a stuffed wolf, who's name is Emerald, under her arm.

She was opening a present from her dad when I took a picture of her. She scowled at me and stuck out her tongue. Mariya tore the wrapping paper off of the box to reveal a phone.

"Awe, my dad didn't have to get me this!" She said with admiration towards the box in her hands. It was the new model of the Apple IPhone and I knew Mariya would probably only use it to play games on or something within that matter.

"Here's your last present Mariya," I said handing her a small box.

"What is it Kito?" She asked looking at me.

"Well, open it! It wouldn't be a gift if you knew what it was!" I said teasing her.

"Okay, okay, relax Kito!" She said taking the wrapping paper off of the box and opening it. "Oh, Kito! It's beautiful!" Mariya exclaimed taking the necklace in her hand and holding the charms that hung on it.

It was a black cord with three different charms. A small cat, a music note, and right in the middle a heart. On the back of the heart there was four letters; BMGF?

"What do the letters mean Kito?" Asked Mariya confused as I put the necklace on her.

I bent down to her ear. "It means, be my girlfriend?"

Mariya covered her mouth and nodded her head. I hugged her tight and looked up at Ellie who looked like she was about to cry of happiness.

"Oh, Miss Mariya! I'm so happy for you, you two are meant to be!" Ellie's hands were clasped together in front of her chest and she rocked her feet back and forth.

Mariya giggled slightly and smiled up at me some more, it seemed that she wanted to speak but no words were coming to mind.

"Oh! I forgot, the doctor would like to start therapy for your legs starting tomorrow morning. He wants to try different things to see if you can support your weight and maybe walk again."

"Really? He wants to try? This is so exciting. Did you hear that Kito? Talk about an amazing birthday!" She exclaimed looking from Ellie then back to me with content and happiness.

"Kito?" Ellie asked getting my attention.

"Yes Ellie?"

"Will you get the cake out of the break room for me?" She asked politely while moving around Mariya's presents and making sure that she was comfortable.

Walking out of Mariya's room I made my way to the break room to grab the cake out of the refrigerator freezer. I noticed a few balloons sitting in the corner of the room and turned one of them to face me.

I know, I know. Curiosity killed the cat. In this case it didn't because I thought that they might of been for Mariya, but they weren't. In bright pink letters the balloons said 'It's a girl!' with glitter falling off of them on to the ground below them.

I shrugged my shoulders and headed back to Mariya's room with her cake when I realized that we were un-traditional and opened presents before having cake. . . Well, we have ice cream cake instead of real cake. Why you may ask?

Because it's the best of both worlds! (A/N: QUE HANNAH MONTANA MUSIC)

"What took you so long Kito?" Mariya asked looking up at me from her bed.

"Uh, I thought some one needed my help but it turned out that they didn't," I said not wanting to tell her about my curiosity of the break room balloons.

"Is that ice cream cake?" She asked, her eyes as big as saucers with excitement.

I nodded my head at her and sat it down on the bed table.

"It's so pretty! Did you pick it Ellie?"

"I did in fact pick it just for you Miss Mariya, you know you're like the daughter I always wanted," Ellie beamed.

"Shall we sing 'Happy Birthday' to the birthday girl Ellie?" I asked as she finished putting 17 candles on the cake.

"Indeed we shall," she giggled.

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Dear Mariya,

Happy Birthday to you.

"Happy Birthday Princess," I said to Mariya after she blew out all the candles on the cake. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and took her hand. "So what did you wish for?" I asked.

"It's supposed to be a secret or it won't come true silly!" Mariya said teasing me.

I laughed and handed her a slice of cake.

"Mm, this is delicious! I've never had ice cream cake before," she said as I gave her a surprised look.

"You've never had ice cream cake before?" I asked obtaining my surprised state.

"Nope, and I've always wanted to go to an amusement park or theme park or whatever you call them but I've never been to one and I can't go to one now because of my legs," she said sadly while taking a bite of her cake.

"I've never been to one either so you're not alone," I said truthfully.

"Kito, will you play me your violin as a present? I haven't heard you play in awhile." Mariya requested.

"Of course my princess," I grabbed my violin, brisker over the strings and started to play a song off of memory.

Mariya had finished her cake and took her nightly medications and settled into her pajamas for the night. Ellie turned of her tv and I lullabied her to sleep with my music.