8 THE DRIP FINALLY STOPPED

HALE'S POV

I tossed and turned in the silk sheets that were tainted dark blue.

It was in the middle of the night. I knew it was, but even then I couldn't bring myself to sleep.

This never happened before.

Not even before the day of my coronation. Granted that rum had been my confidant at that time.

It still is, but nobody requires to know that information, so why bother getting 'help' or whatever it is that Davina calls it.

I sighed and threw the covers away.

Sleep wasn't visiting me tonight and there was no use waiting for it to know on my door.

I got off my mattress, the one I knew costed a lot more than I would ever spend on it.

I was a wealthy king.

I was certainly not a mindless fool.

I walked toward my closet and tried to look past all the dreadful blue suits.

It was badly scarred, dented, dark brown and scuffed. A corner was chipped, and a crack ran from the shoulder to the top of the right f-hole. Salty grey tear marks streaked over the belly. The wood was warm to the touch, not shiny, but matte, like well-worn leather. I turned it over. Grime, the color of coffee grounds, covered the back, partially obscuring the pinwheels of birdseye maple.

This was the one object that reminded me the most of my mother.

I kissed the slender neck of the violin.

"I miss you mamá."

I positioned the chest rest over my shoulders and took in a deep breath.

It had been a while since I last played it.

The bow slowly kissed the E-string, and the music just flowed. It was gentle. It was soft. It was like two lover's first kiss.

Like they were testing uncharted waters.

It went on for a little more than a second when I changed the chord. The bow shifted from E- string to A, without even looking.

Twenty years of playing violin had gifted me this.

It slowly began to intensify, as the minutes passed. From that slow first kiss, it turned into a touch of passionate but anger.

Like that kiss was the only thing that spoke for whatever that they kept inside their clogged hearts.

The notes fell after one another.

The next ready before the last fell.

There were tears.

Certainly some anger filled tears.

Along with a passionate fire that could burn you before you even came close to it.

The bow kept switching between the strings while my eyes remained closed.

How could they open?

I was too lost in this tension I had created. But there's no love story that stays passionate for too long, is there?

I brought down the bow to a deeper pitch, and let the intensity soften.

They were finally letting go of each other.

It hurt.

But it hurt lesser than holding on did.

Love becomes toxic when it starts to run in your heart instead of blood.

After all that's what happened between my father and mother.

I hit a wrong note and winced immediately.

The image of my mother weeping made me want to throw the damn violin away.

But I couldn't.

Not until I let them let go.

As the notes softened, my heart began to calm down.

They were letting go.

And it hurt.

But at least, this way, their heart didn't continue to bleed.

If only my mother had let go of my father sooner.

As I played the last note, I smiled to myself.

It was over.

The drip finally stopped.

----------------------------------------------*-

"Guar-"

"Your Majesty! Did you call for me? How can I help you?"

"The treaty with France. Bring that for me."

It wasn't until the guard didn't move that I looked at him.

He stood still, as if he was trying to figure whether his king needed someone to check him up.

"Bring me the treaty contract we signed with France, will you?"

The guard continued to gawk at me like I was some exotic animal the the English had come to see.

I cleared my throat loud enough for him to get out of whatever dreaming he was doing right now.

"I am sorry to interrupt your lousy walk through your precious imagination, but some of us have got a kingdom to run. If you are too busy to serve your king, young lad, I suggest you take some days off and give some serious reconsideration to your occupation."

The boy's shoulders shook as I finished speaking. His ears were pink with embarrassment. He looked no older than sixteen.

What was he even doing inside the castle?

He should be learning.

Teaching himself the history of our kingdom and how to cure sick people. He shouldn't be wasting his time in here.

"B - But your Maj - Majesty, It is three in the early dawn. A - Are you certain you want those papers right now? S- Shouldn't you get some sleep for the big meeting tomorrow?"

This boy really had a lot to say.

Didn't he know?

He was talking to the devil.

"Lad, I appreciate your kind concern for your king. But right now, I would appreciate it more if you just brought me the goddamn papers."

The guard sighed and bowed.

"As you say, Your Majesty. But just remember, you will feel lethargic the following morning."

And with that he made his way out of my chamber.

That was strange.

Did that boy just question me?

I shook my head and laid back on the bed. The music I played just an hour ago played in my head.

It felt peaceful.

Playing the violin after months.

For those few minutes, I felt at home.

That was strange too.

"Your majesty, I am well aware of the fact that you wanted the treaty but when I was younger, my mother used to bring me warm milk. I brought you some. Maybe this will help you sleep for the meeting tomorrow."

With these incredibly annoying doe - eyes, he continued to look at me.

"Boy. Bring me the damn papers or bring in your paper of resignation. It really is your choice."

He sighed and left the cup on my table.

He sighed.

At me.

A boy just sighed at me.

This day really was strange.

'Night, Hale, Night.', came that taunting voice from inside that I had learnt to despise over the years.

Well, being sleepless really does take out any difference left between dusk and dawn, doesn't it?

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