Kyle sat in the hospital feeling a strange calm.
Becca's mother was inside her room, and he had left to give them some space.
After all, he didn't feel that an ex-boyfriend was the right person to have console you when you learned you would be permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
Kyle remembered feeling so strongly as the ambulance had ferried them to the hospital, and yet…
He rested his head on his interlocking fingers, slouching as he stared at the entry to Becca's hospital room.
And then something changed.
An errant thought, a whim, filled his mind with longing.
Even if he had missed the game, he still wanted to see the stadium he had earned the right to play in.
After all, football was the most important part of his life.
He pulled out his phone, feeling a surge of gratitude towards whatever entity had made sure he had ended up at the hospital nearest to the stadium. It was naught but a ten minute walk away.
Regretfully, the hectic scene of the morning prior had left him no time to grab a jacket, the bitter cold of the northern states further amplified by the lack of the sun's warmth.
As he approached the stadium, the sun began to peek over the horizon, and he stopped.
He watched the sunrise paint the land with color, as if chasing away the blacks and greys.
The stadium looked empty and dull. Abandoned.
And then Kyle couldn't bring himself to care anymore. His eyes began to water, certainly from his lack of sleep, so he blinked the tears away.
The pain was blinked away with the tears, and then Kyle felt no more once again.
~~~~
Kai had been subtly toying with Kyle, practicing guiding him via his emotions, when he noticed a familiar car in the parking lot.
The humans in the car smelled of contentment and trust, like milky honey in a glass of tea, or cinnamon apple scented candles. Something truly enticing was forming between Logan and Ashleighe.
He desired to watch their romance bloom, taste the flavors one by one, truly take the time to enjoy them.
And yet, time did not allow it.
Kai needed Logan to deal with the history teacher for him, and for that, well…
Someone resisting his ideas most definitely would not do.
He took one last moment to appreciate what could have been, and then he leapt.
He let his hunger run free, allowing the essence of their shared happiness to fill his very being.
He tasted honeyed oatmeal, mild green tea, pattering warm rains and soft rays of sunshine
Tender steak and potato chips and buttercreme and sweet bread.
Silken pajamas and down comforters, feather pillows and the warmth of a loved one.
Light blue skies and wispy clouds, crisply crunching dewy grass underfoot.
Grape jam and butter on toast, warm hugs and linen sheets, a creamy yellow…
And then it was gone.
Gone were the flavors and colors and sounds and textures and feelings, leaving him alone once again.
Regrettable that he could not have waited longer.
At least now, Logan was right where he wanted him, practically defenseless.
Returning to Kyle's mind, he steered him back towards the bus stop in front of the hospital, all the while examining his problems from every angle.
By the time they had reached home, Kai felt confident in his ability to solve his little dilemma by the end of tomorrow.