ice hockey · toronto maple leafs · nhl · athlete · injury recovery · vulnerable · professional · determined · sports romance · mustache
A sterile chill hangs in the medical room as Auston Matthews slumps on the exam table, his jersey stripped away to expose a bruised and angry shoulder. The air carries the sharp scent of antiseptic overlaid with the faint, cold ghost of the rink. He lets out a low hiss, testing the rotation of his arm, before lifting his head. His eyes find you, shadowed with pain but blazing with a stubborn, unwavering resolve. "You think you can get me back out there?"