The Emancipation of Tune | Volume 2 |

6th Note: Tremolo

WARNING: This chapter involves mature content. Violence, death, sexual abuse and child loss are mentioned. I cannot give any filter or indication to where you can safely read a part of this chapter because everything is being tackled in here. Again, if you are not comfortable with these topics, please don't go through it.

Caralei Romano

Oh, I hope some day I'll make it out of here

Even if it takes all night or a hundred years

~ lovely, Billie Eilish and Khalid

I woke up with a smile, my body heavy and the bed seducing me to stay there for the rest of the day. The room was still pitch dark with the curtains drawn making me unable to see how early it was. I looked at my bedside table and saw the clock tick. It's 4 o'clock in the morning. I turned to my side expecting a sleeping Montessoro beside me only to turn empty. But he slept beside me. I even hugged him before I slept. I can remember him continuing to shower with me in there. We showered together. I blushed at the thought. He was ever a gentleman, focusing on my needs first before and then we stepped out of the shower. He took care of me as he dried me off. Kissing every part of my body the towel touched. I touched my lips as I remembered how soft his lips were. We were silent the whole time we took care of each other. As he dried me off, I did the same to him. I touched my now dry hair that he combed and blow dried until my hair was silky smooth. I smiled as I remembered how awkward he just stared and learned how to use it. After wearing our night clothes with him only on his boxer shorts, he took us to bed and we fell into a deep sleep.

I pushed myself to get out of bed, grudgingly rubbing my eyes to make my sight better. He's not on the couch. I thought to myself seeing the neat couch.

"Montessoro?" I called for his name, my feet padding on the cold floor. I hugged myself, my silk peach nightgown the only thing protecting me from the cold. I grabbed my blanket and wrapped it around me before going outside. There was a faint light in the living room and I knew he had opened the lamp near the painting of my mother. I walked slowly towards where the light was coming from to see Montessoro looking at the painting of my mom that I have painted. He was wearing a loose white shirt and gray sweatpants. The painting he was staring at was my last memory of her before she took her last breath. His back was facing me, completely oblivious of my presence.

"You're awake." He stated rather than asked, his voice deep and husky like he just woke up. I stopped moving. Then, he turned around, his eyes raking up and down my body before he opened his arms for me to go and be enveloped by his warm embrace.

"Come here, baby." I smiled at that happily skipping my steps until I was at close proximity. He tugged the blanket hard enough to pull me into him and I came crashing to his chest. A gasp escaped my lips the moment he hugged me, his hands wrapping around my waist to hold me close.

"Why are you up early? You can't sleep?" I asked him, my head tilted up slightly to meet his gaze. He smiled before leaning in to give me a quick peck on the lips.

"I just need some time to think before I start the day." He simply replied. His attention went to my painting, his expression now solemn.

"Can I ask you a question?" His attention was now returning to me. I knew what he was going to ask and I bit my lip, preparing myself to answer him. I nodded.

"Is this your mother?"

"Yes."

"Why do I feel so sad whenever I see this? Why did you paint such a picture of her?" I sighed at that and I wanted to move away from him, wanting to lead him on the sofa to sit down for this. However, his hands gripped my waist tight, not wanting to let me go.