At first it was shocking, but then it became normal. Wait... normal isn't quite word Garret would use. He would say it's more... its more like something you get used to. Like that unsightly scar reminding him of how close he came to losing his pinky to a trailer hitch. Something that makes you feel lucky or happy that something bad didn't happen. Yeah, like that, but sort of the opposite.

Of course Garret was shocked, in what world would he not be. One week, they were happy, the next she decided that she needed to discover the world on her own. Shocked, he would tell his mates, is an understatement. Of course he let her, he loved her. She had never been less than honest with him before, so he trusted that she was telling the truth and let her go. You know the old adage, if you love something let it go and ... well maybe I don't know the old adage.

But now its normal. Its normal for Garret to wake up without her, smiling. To wake up happy, to turn off the sad music. Not that he's happy she's gone, its just that he's used to it. But sometimes he'll catch a glimpse of someone in a crowd, maybe with the same hair, maybe with the same curves, and get just a little feeling of hope, followed by a lot of anxiety.

It was in those moments that it was like looking at that scar, but sort of the opposite. Garret always had to pause, and take a deep breath before continue. In that moment, the moment it takes to inhale and.... exhale he would revist her. He would think about all the times he woke up with her, smiling. The wake up happy, to turn on the love songs, and be happy she's around.

This scar didn't make him feel lucky or happy that something didn't happen, but rather that something did. This scar had more story than the one on his pinky, or his forehead, or anywhere else on his body. It was unsightly, as all scars are, and of course it was shocking to look at it at first, but now it was normal. He almost felt.... better for having it. He knew what to look for, what sort of feelings hid behind certain smiles, and how to make someone's eyes light up.

Garret took his deep breath, walked into Starbucks and smiled back at the cute Barista that always seemed to smile, that kind of smile, at him first. He said hello, and her eyes lit up as she asked to take his order.

Maybe this scar isn't so unsightly after all.