Unbroken

I kept my eyes pinned on the ground as I asked myself where this was going to go, how it would progress, and how were Leo and Hunter on such strange trajectories?

Meanwhile, sitting next to me, Leo was twitchy, bopping his leg nonstop. He wanted to smooth things over with Hunt. I kept telling myself that the issue was between them both, that I shouldn’t intervene, that it was okay for them to work it out amongst themselves. It was healthy to be distant about such things.

Still.

It took a lot not to get up when Hunter was discharged with his mom. His arm was wrapped up, and he looked groggy. Leo went to him straight away. Hunter came to a full halt at the sight of him. I tensely watched them for a few minutes as they stared at each other. I couldn’t read Hunter’s face, couldn’t see Leo’s from where I sat—

Leo wrapped his arms around Hunter, and they hugged. Hunter buried his face in Leo’s shoulder, and they held each other for a while, saying nothing.

Relieved and filled with emotion, my body sagged in my seat. My heart beat furiously in my chest as I took in their embrace, their affections loud and clear for each other. They were like brothers. So different, but so alike at the same time.

I buried my face in Onyx’s fur and let out a long breath.