It was like trudging through mud. Consciousness pushed through the mires of sleep, and June's eyes fluttered open to stare at a ceiling that she thought for a moment belonged to her room.
'June!'
Ron's concerned features filled her vision. He gave a nervous laugh and stroked her face.
'Ron,' she croaked. Her throat was dry. 'What... happened?'
'You don't remember?' The concern re-emerged. 'Hey, easy!'
She sat up with a wince and looked around now, taking in her surroundings. It was a hospital. She turned back to her brother in shock as the events of the previous night hit her like a brick.
'You had an accident,' said Ron.
'Someone... someone ran me off the road.' She could remember now. The split second panic. She remembered losing her balance... And nothing after that. Her hand found a bandage on her forehead.
Ron's features had darkened. 'Did you see the license plate? Or what car it was? We'll find the son of a bitch.'
She shook her head. It seemed so surreal. She had been on her bike, enjoying the night air...
'My bike!' Her heart sank. She had spent ages saving up to buy it. 'Where's my bike?'
'June, forget the bike! What matters is that you're okay. You need to rest.'
'Where is it? You didn't just leave it there, right?'
'I don't know where it is, June.' He hesitated. 'You won't need it any more.'
Her eyes widened and she very carefully made sure she could feel both her legs before slapping Ron on the arm. 'Not funny.'
He rolled his eyes. 'That's not what I meant.' He pulled out his phone and showed her a picture of a brand new bike, identical to hers. She stared at it nonplussed.
'There was a guy driving through where you had your accident. He found you and brought you here in the middle of the night and had the hospital call me. And... he got you a new bike this morning.'
She blinked. 'What?'
He threw up his hands. 'I don't know what.'
'And you took it?'
'I didn't say anything! Guy just walked in here and said your bike was totaled and he'd gotten you a new one. Then he just handed me the keys and left.'
She took a final look at the bike and handed the phone back to her brother. 'So what was his deal? Rich guy?'
'Didn't look it even if he was. I talked to him and he was actually... pretty nice. Even waited at the hospital till I got here.'
'Wow...' Sighing, June lay back down on the bed. 'I should thank him.'
'Yeah... He wasn't too bad looking,' he remarked.
'Am I in the middle of your meet-cute?' June snorted.
'Nah. I'm not his type. So maybe I'm in the middle of your meet-cute.' He grinned and took her hand in his. 'I'm glad you're okay, June.'
She gripped his hand tightly in response and smiled. 'Yeah, of course I am.' She glanced at a jug of water nearby and he obliged.
'So, what's his name?' she asked as he poured. 'The guy who got me here.'
He handed her the glass. 'His name's Nate.'
