The next day Zara was sitting in her chair looking out the bedroom window. She hadn't left her room all day. Her bandage had fallen off and she saw the wounds in the mirror. The scar was in a place once her hair grew back would cover. Right now, with her head shaved and, still not healed made her feel like a monster. Hunter walked in seeing her head uncovered. "Zara, what happened to the bandage?" She pointed at the floor. He went over. "Want me to wrap it back up? You can't leave it open like that. It will get infected." He grabbed fresh bandages and tried to help her. She shoved his hand away. He saw she had been crying.
She wrote on her board. "Ugly. Monster."
Hunter pulled her chair over by the bed so he could look her in the eye. She wouldn't look at him. "You are not ugly. Or a monster. You're beautiful." She pointed at her head and flipped him off. "Well, you sure have that sign down pat don't you. I think you are beautiful. Those eyes are stunning and…" Hunter looked away. She pushed his leg that was in front of her and grunted trying to get him to finished his sentence. "I think your pretty ok. Even with your hair gone and the scar. You are really pretty."
She held up her board, "Bullshit! Lier!"
He got mad quick, "You want to sit here and feel sorry for yourself that's fine but, don't ever call me that. I happen to think you are pretty. Hell, I had a week of looking at you in a coma long enough to burn your damn face in my mind. I can't get you out of my head and, to be honest, I like having you here. I understand you are dealing with a lot but, I'm trying to help you."
She held up her hand and dropped her head. She signed, "I'm sorry." Writing on the board. She handed it to him. "I'm not pretty like those other girls at your job. From the pictures of me, I never was like them. I'm really not. Why would you say I'm pretty?"
"Because it's true. Those girls are a dime a dozen. It takes more than makeup and fake boobs to be pretty. It starts here." He pointed at her heart. She half smiled. "Zara, what brought this on? Why are you acting like this? Ever since last night in the gym, you have been acting weird."
She shrugged. She knew why but, she didn't want to tell him. She wanted to tell him she liked him but, with her own words. Her old self would have been too shy but, now she didn't understand shyness as she did before.
"Ok, I'll let you be but, we need to put this back on your head. When you are ready to tell me why you are acting like this, I will be ready to listen." He kissed her cheek.
Zara reached up feeling the spot his lips touched. Sighing wishing it was more.