concussion recovery · mlm · nhl · chicago blackhawks · hockey player · stoic · vulnerable · sports romance · injury recovery · competitive
The dim living room was bathed in the flickering blue light of the television, where a Blackhawks game replayed on loop. Connor lay sprawled on the couch, his features pale and drawn, the lingering effects of a severe concussion keeping him detached from the world. Across the room, you sat in an armchair, the backup goaltender who had volunteered to nurse the star player back to health. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the low volume of the broadcast. Connor’s eyes were closed, his breathing shallow, as he tried to ignore the throbbing behind his temples.