Chapter 13: Alive
Noelle heads inside and finds Thorne propped up in bed. "You're awake," he hears Noelle's voice, and a smile of relief spreads across his face. Thorne now has a bit more strength, his time awake stretches longer, and he can feed himself. His appearance has shifted from a shadow of illness to a man who looks like he's starting to recover. His face, though still gaunt, shows hints of the handsome man he used to be. Noelle chuckles softly, noting that with better health, Thorne's full attractiveness would surely return.
"Have they left?" Thorne asks, his voice still weak but clearer than before.
"Yes, my dear," Noelle replies with a laugh, taking away the empty porridge bowl from the bedside table. There's a playful glint in Thorne's eyes as he seems to have a one-sided conflict with their visitors. It's endearing to Noelle.
With a practiced ease, Noelle returns with a chair, one Ben had fetched for him. He helps Thorne into the chair with careful hands. Thorne, now more assertive, tries to wheel himself around, pushing Noelle away with a mix of determination and stubbornness.
Noelle watches with a mix of amusement and pride as Thorne wheels himself to the porch, carefully navigating the incline placed by the single stair leading to the ground. From the window, Noelle observes Thorne basking in the sunlight, his eyes closing as he soaks in the warmth. The sight is a testament to the progress they've made together.
Noelle hums softly as he moves to the kitchen. He starts preparing dough for cookies, filling the house with the comforting aroma of baking. The cookies are left in the oven, and he turns his attention to preparing lunch, slicing chunks of chicken Ben had brought earlier that day.
As Noelle works, the simplicity of the tasks brings a sense of normalcy and contentment. Despite the challenges, this quiet, routine life is a precious solace. The only thing he would change is to see Thorne fully restored to health. For now, though, he cherishes these small moments of peace and progress, embracing the life they're slowly rebuilding together.