Hunter's POV
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They finally let me leave the hospital. March 5. Three and a half weeks later.
I walked outside and it felt different than I remembered. Suddenly, everything was full of color, or seemingly more so than it had been before the accident. It kind of reminded me of a tropical rainforest - type setting. I looked over to Matt, who was getting in the driver side door of the car.
"Everything's brighter and all blossomy."
"Oh, good observation, Hunter! It's now March 5, also known as: Spring!" He put his hands under his tilted head, gave a ditsy smile, and lifted his right foot off the ground. I rolled my eyes.
"No need to be sarcastic, Matt."
"No need to be oblivious, Hunter."
"Is this considered abuse of the injured now?"
"Pretty sure you just got discharged, so, no."
I asked him to take me to a family coffee shop we both knew. When we got there, he said he needed to run to CVS across the street and he'd be back to pick me up. I nodded and headed inside.
Boy it felt good to be out in the world again.
The line wasn't long, thank goodness, because as much as an open coffee lover I was, the hospital brewed stuff was pretty bad.
I ordered a cup of regular black coffee. I needed to appreciate some real, good, natural-tasting coffee.
I could see Matt pull up through the window as I turned around from the counter, thanking the barista. And as I started waking, I saw a face I swore I recognized.
A closer look revealed bright, beautiful green eyes.
And what did I do?
Trip. Because I give clinics on the art of being smooth.
Somehow I managed not to spill the coffee but I sent my phone skidding across the floor towards HER table. Of course.
The guy she was sitting with was getting up to leave. Wanting to avoid an awkward situation in case that was indeed her boyfriend, I tried to quickly gather myself and get the phone before she did me the favor.
As I grabbed it and looked back up, we made eye contact for the first time.
But maybe not technically the first time.
Could it be? .... No, Hunter. Stop.
I realized I hadn't spoken for a perceivably awkward amount of time, so I stuttered through a weak apology before she asked if I was alright, we exchanged goodbyes, and I walked out.
Her green eyes stayed in the forefront of my mind the whole way home.
But it couldn't be her. No way.
That's too good to be true.
