Well, we made it for my physio appointment but I was dead tired.

Leon drove me to school thereafter. I had been absent from school for too long to be able to catch up and complete this semester. Moreover, my physical condition had proven that I'm not suited to be playing the cello now. Those fine movements that once felt so easy to execute had presented itself as a challenge now.

With a heavy heart, I dragged myself to the administration office to apply for a leave of absence from school. I stood on the other side of the counter as I passed the form unwillingly to Mrs Smith, the admin lady.

"Ms Anderson, I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to you. I wish you a speedy recovery," Mrs Smith's mouth pulled into a slight frown as she looked at me with sympathy-filled eyes.

I shrugged slightly, still not used to everyone's reaction over my mishap. Regardless, deep-down I understood that they had no idea how to react to it except to give me their sympathy.

"Thank you, Mrs Smith," I muttered, clasping my hands together behind the counter so that she doesn't see my unease.

I left the administration office and walked towards the school's main entrance. On my way, I paused several times and looked longingly at the seminar rooms and practice studios. I had been playing the cello since I was six, and now I felt extremely empty and sad without it.

-

Once I returned to Leon's apartment, he ran off for a project meeting. Using whatever strength I have, I lugged the cello into the living room. I positioned it between my knees and placed my fingers on the fingerboard. The other hand rested the bow on top of it, and when I pulled, an ear-piercing screech sounded. The dejection tore through my heart but I refused to give up. Biting down on my lower lip, I continued to practice, believing that I would be able to find back my momentum one day.

Then, the doorbell rang and I gently place the cello back on the floor. I reached for my crutches and limped my way to the door. I stuck my eye towards the peephole and saw that it was the mailman, so I opened the door.

"Ms Anderson?" the mailman checked. "I was told that you have directed all your mails to this address."

"Yes, it's me," I nodded and pointed to the envelope in his hands. "That must be mine?"

"Yes, could you please sign here?" The mailman handed me a card from his pocket and a pen.

"Alright, thank you." I took the pen and signed on the card before passing it back to him. I took the envelope and smiled at him.

"Have a pleasant day," he returned the smile.

"You too," I said, before closing the door.

Flipping the envelope over, I realised that it was an official document from the stamp on the top right corner. I stared at the envelope and my heart started racing. Without opening it, I could already expect what it was meant for. 

I am not ready for this.

Turbulent of emotions came crashing into me and it was not long before I realised that I was hyperventilating. Dropping the letter, I gripped tightly on my crutch and stumbled my way into the house. I forced my legs to move even though the lack of air had caused my world to spin. 

Falling on the couch, I stretched strenuously to grab the paper bag on the coffee table which Leon had placed for when I needed it. I panted into the paper bag and tried to breathe as deeply as I could. My hand fumbled around to search for my phone and when I found it, I grabbed it with trembling hands while dialling Leon's number.  

"Rae?" Leon's voice came through the phone.

My body forced a sharp inhale, robbing my ability to provide a reply.

"Is anything wrong?" he asked, sounding worried.

"L-Leo—" I choked on my words, my throat constricting and my hands reached out to grab on my neck instinctively.

"Paper bag, sweetheart—" he panicked. "It's on the coffee table. It should be there."

"I-I g-got—" I couldn't finish what I wanted to say but I was sure he got my message because he immediately replied, "Breathe into it. Breathe, sweetheart, it's okay. You're okay."

After a while, I managed to regulate my emotions and calm down. Leon repeated my name, again and again, reminding me to focus solely on my breathing. 

His voice was so deep and assuring that I wished I could drown myself in the comfort of it and he stayed with me for the whole fifteen minutes even when I was sure he was in a midst of a meeting when I called. My heart warmed so much that I couldn't help but bite back the rush of tears that brimmed within me.

"Rae, I still have a meeting later. Do you need me to call Clara or Tyson over to be with you?" he asked.

"N-No, it's okay. I'm alright now," I replied, voice slightly croaky.

"My phone's always with me, you can call me anytime," he reminded.

"Thank you, Leo," I muttered. "I love you."

"I love you too, Rae. Thank you for calling me."

When he hung up the call, I sat in the couch, tucking my knees close to my chest. Honestly, I'd managed up till this point because Leon had been nothing but patient. God, he's such a great guy. He's so perfect till the point that I sometimes wonder what good I'd done in my life to deserve someone like him.

When strength returned back to me, I reached for my crutches and gripped on the handles firmly before pushing myself up and walked back to the entryway. Picking up the letter from the ground, I tore the envelope opened and took out the document within. My eyes combed through the contents. My palms became clammy and my entire body was drenched in cold sweat by the time I reached the last word.

You can do this. Rachelle, you can do this. I reminded that to myself repeatedly.

-

Leon came home before dinner time. Hugging a paper bag filled with groceries, he walked into the kitchen and began whipping something simple for the two of us. 

I still wondered when he learned how to cook because when we were young, we only knew how to mess the entire kitchen up. I chuckled at the memory when Mom was so furious then and she grounded us for a month. Yes, Mom grounded Leon in our house for a month.

"What are you laughing about?" Leon walked out of the kitchen with two plates of pasta, placing one in front of me before sitting down in the chair beside me.

I glanced down at the plate and whined at the sight of tomatoes. Why did he think it's a good idea to add roasted tomatoes to a delicious plate of aglio olio?

"You've yet changed a single bit," he teased.

"You did this on purpose!" I complained. I had always hated the mushy, wet, gooey mess on the insides of tomatoes. 

"Tomatoes are good for health," he stated.

"So are kiwis," I challenged. I saw him flinch at the name of his most hated fruit. Leon hated them with a passion since young.

"Alright, scoop those tomatoes to me," he sighed.

I smirked triumphantly and he pinched the tip of my nose while making a click with his tongue. I held onto my fork and spoon like a surgeon, carefully picking out those tomatoes, ensuring that none of those mucus-like mess mixes into my pasta.

"Did something happen in the afternoon?" he asked.

I accidentally poked on one of the tomatoes and its filling spilled on my pasta. I wanted to facepalm myself but my mind was still stunned by the sudden question, not expecting it to be asked in the middle of the meal. Not that I planned to hide from him, it was just that the question was dropped so unexpectedly, causing me to choke on my words.

"Rae?" he raised his hand and hovered it in front of me.

"A letter came from the court," I explained.

✿

What your most hated food?