Shorts

notes

She noticed him just before he did her. She gave him a glance, then returned to her book.

He looked at her because she was different. She wasn't looking at him like he was a charity case, but like he was a person. That was different. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Then she saw the note. "You're pretty."

She came back to the cafe every day that week. He did too. She never noticed him. Every day he ordered a black coffee, and a hot chocolate for her, because that was what she liked. Every day he left a note for her.

"Hi"
"You have a lovely smile"
"My name is Evan"
"What's yours?"

She'd leave notes behind on the table.

"Hi"
"Who are you?"
"Where are you Evan?"
"My name is Kitty"

One day he caught her crying in the bathroom. He went in and quickly began writing on a napkin. "I'm Evan. Are you alright?" She shook her head.

"Why won't you speak?" He looked at her and shook his head. He held her until she put herself back together.

*******

She was at the hospital. Her brother was brain dead. Max. They were going to unplug him. She didn't want to be there.

Their parents were gone. She'd never met Max's best friend, but she knew he'd been in the accident too. They weren't close.

*******

He was sad. She was at Elle's, the cafe, and he had his head down on the counter. She spoke, "It's okay to be broken. I'm broken too." Then the girl with the purple hair, and the boy with the piercings grabbed their things and walked out.

They sat on a bench. They held each other. They were there for eternity. When eternity passed they left. The stars were out now.

*******

He was at the hospital. The doctors checked him over. They said his injuries were healing. They said he could talk again soon. He went to more speech therapy. His vocal chords and broken limbs were healing.

*******

She was eating chocolate. She worked more and more. She couldn't sleep. She tried anyway. He found her at the cafe. He held her.

*******

The funeral was today. She got out of bed and put on a dress. She went to the cafe. He wasn't there. She went to the cemetery. Max's friend didn't come. He had therapy.

*******

He went back to the hospital. They cleared him. He could speak again. His arm would still need a cast, but he was okay. He wanted to see her.

*******

She was at the cafe. He walked up to her. "My name is Evan. I was in a car crash two weeks ago. My best friend died. I couldn't even go to the funeral. I damaged my vocal chords and broke an arm in the accident. I like you."

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "I'm Max's sister. Its lovely to hear you're alright. Would you like to get as coffee with me?"