Falling leaves hide the path so quietly.

I'm Autumn Rose Winters. I'm in my third year at UAC, and I love it so much! I major in Creative Writing, and have a minor in Journalism. Although, my ultimate goal is to be a novelist.

[october-grace]

Smiling softly, October pulled back a little to look at Autumn as she began to relax. “I love you,” she spoke in a soft whisper and then looked around the kitchen and then back to Autumn’s leg. “It’s probably going to be a pain, but I am going to wrap your leg up and then we’ll have to walk to the car,” she smiled weakly and then her eyes widened at the suggestion. “A— Are you sure?” she stumbled over her words and let out a breath. “I mean we can… if you are sure.” 

[autumn-winters]

Autumn nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay. Do it fast, okay?" She sat up again, outstretching her leg. Looking at October, she worried her lip. "Baby? Never leave again without waking me and telling me or..leaving a note beside the bed first?" She nodded. "No. But..I need to do this."

[october-grace]

October held her for as long as she cried, she closed her eyes and cursed to herself for actually leaving her to begin with, she knew she shouldn’t have gone out and left her alone. The gift upstairs was completely forgotten as they sat in the kitchen. “I will stay with you the entire time, yes. I won’t let them take you away.”

[autumn-winters]

"We can go, then..." She looked up at October, her heart rate slowing to normal, and her breathing relaxed. "I..feel safe with you." This was it - she couldn't do this anymore. She needed to get better; start talking about what happened. More importantly? She needed to get back into her jeep. "Can..we take my jeep?" She knew her father paid to have it fixed and detailed so the blood was gone. She couldn't drive it, but..but she needed to force herself into it.

[october-grace]

As Autumn began to move towards her, October fell backwards to the floor so that she was sitting down and allowed her girlfriend to crawl into her arms, she herself not caring about the blood either. “Shh, Baby…” she cooed softly and pressed a soft kiss to Autumn’s temple. She pulled back and reached for the cloth, placing it back on her leg, as she wrapped the other one around her securely as she cried. “No, they won’t. But your leg needs to get looked at, CeeBee.” She sighed softly. “I won’t leave, I promise. I love you.”

[autumn-winters]

Autumn just cried for an amount of time she couldn't place. All she knew, was that when she was finally able to stop, her leg was on fire and she was utterly exhausted with no fight left in her. "You'll..stay by mme the entire time? Won't let them commit me?"

[october-grace]

October grimaced herself, knowing the pain she was probably feeling, her gaze shot straight up when Autumn began speaking. “I will never leave you, not for anything in this damn world because the thing I want the most is sitting in pain right in right of me. I love you so much, CeeBee,” she breathed out. “Can you hold this on your leg?” She asked as she looked around for stuff she could clean the mess up with. “I might have to take you to the emergency room to get your leg looked at.”

[autumn-winters]

Autumn suddenly wasn't thinking about not getting blood on her girlfriend, and crawled into her arms, ignoring the pain in her leg as she did so. She clutched onto her shirt, which would leave distinct bloody hand prints. She cried into October, not holding the cloth to her leg. "No..they'll..lock me u-up..they'l take m-me away f-from you..." Not to mention, that would involve getting in a car. "I'll..be better, Roo. I'll c-clean up a-and be b-better.. Just don't l-leave and don't..don't let them take m-me from you.."

[october-grace]

October let out a soft breath and shook her head. “Don’t worry about the mess, CeeBee.” She paused for a moment. “My mother won’t send you away, I promise.” She gave her a weak tiny smile as she reached for the knife and took it out of her hands, standing up straight, she placed it in the sink. Looking around, October found an old dish towel and ran it under the water before she returned back to Autumn. “Here let’s clean your leg up a bit,” she said softly dabbing at the blood. “Baby? What happened? Why’d you do this?” She asked.

[autumn-winters]

Autumn let out a silent, airy groan as her thigh was touched with the cloth. "I just..I had a dream and he was in it and then..and then I woke up and you weren't there and your mom said you left to be with..with someone else, and then I really woke up..and you still weren't there, and then I thought someone was in the house, and they weren't but the knife was in my hand and my wrists are still sore from last time and I just..I needed to go away.."

[october-grace]

"Hey, shh… don’t worry about the kitchen! I don’t care, I will help clean it later. Just…" October let out quickly. "Baby…" she said softly. "Give me the knife," she continued "Please, just give me the knife and let me help you." She finished as she held out her hand. 

[autumn-winters]

"It's..like a apple exploded, Roo.. I have to c-clean it up..before your mom..she'll s-send me away.." Autumn's hand was shaking as she held out the knife, and unable to keep her leg bent, straightened it out in front of her. Her shirt was now covered in blood, and on her thigh, it was hard to tell where the blood started and where it ended. "It hurts.."

[october-grace]

October stepped out for a little bit as she noticed Autumn was soundly asleep, she had been making a lot of progress the past week and figured that leaving for a little bit wouldn’t have been that big of a deal, as she strolled drove along, she spotted an antique jewelry store, smiling to herself she quickly pulled over and rushed out of the car and into the shop, it was breathtaking gorgeous in there. Looking around for a moment she came across a few necklaces that caught her attention straight away, she looked at each of them and then finally decided on one, she purchased it from the friendly old lady who works there and quickly made her way back to her house. 

Finally arriving back at her house, she turned the car off, grabbed the little gift bag and made her way inside, going straight up to their room to check on Autumn, however when she walked in her girlfriend wasn’t in her bed anymore, placing the gift on it she turned back around. “CeeBee?” She called out as she made her way out of her room to look for her. “Bab—” she began again but fell flat as she saw her in the kitchen with knives around her and bloody dripping from her leg. 

October breath hitched in her throat at the sight and she lost all her motor skills for the time being. “Fuck…” she whispered after a moment and then quickly moved into action once she came back to reality, she rushed over to her girlfriend. “CeeBee, Baby! Are you alright!?” She let out in a panic as she began to pick the knives up from around her, she didn’t want to reach for the girl’s hand in case it freaked her out and she did something even worse.

[autumn-winters]

Autumn watched in a disconnected way, as October removed the other knives. Her thigh had been done a number on, and she was now crying - balling her eyes out. "I-I..your kitchen..I'm sorry for making a mess..I'll clean it up...I'm s-sorry. D-don't tell your mom I made a mess..she's so nice to me..I'll clean it u-up..okay?" She curled up some, causing her leg muscles to flex, and reopen any wounds that had stopped bleeding. She clutched the knife handle, but so the tip of the blade was more towards her chest/gut, her hand resting on her knees, the end of the blade handle, facing October.

[autumn-winters]

Nothing was right at that moment - October's mother was out and October was, too, and she was having an anxiety attack because of a dream. It made her relive the horror and then she was convinced someone was in the house. So she took a knife out to look; but no one was there. Except now she had a knife in her hands and the light reflecting on it made it..beautiful.

Before she knew it, all the knives were surrounding her as she sat in the kitchen in a corner, blood still dripping from her right thigh as she debated with a knife loosely to her wrist.

[autumn-winters]

Don't move! Just stay there, okay?

[october-grace]

October chuckled as she fell back into a sitting position on the grass from where she was crouched down as Sasha began to lick her. “Okay, okay! Stop!” She laughed out not even realizing that Autumn was taking some pictures of them. She then looked up and grinned as Autumn began to walk over and stopped in front of them. A soft blush danced it’s way across her face at her words. “And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened in my life…”

[autumn-winters]

Autumn outreached her hand and gently caressed October's cheek, smiling. "You're blushing, Roo." She teased. Her own blush appeared before she dropped down and pressed her lips ever so softly to October's. "You're the love of my life, October - and I'll never let you go again.."

[autumn-winters]

Don't move! Just stay there, okay?

[october-grace]

"Come here, Sash!" October called out as they finally reached the park, her eyes drifted to Autumn and a soft smile appeared on her face. Slowly but surely they were putting Autumn back together and she promised she’d be with her every step of the way and so she has so far. She laughed as Autumn began to tell Sasha to stay with her and she held out her arms to embrace the dog as she scampered back to her.

[autumn-winters]

Autumn laughed as she took the picture, and then a couple more. She lowered the camera a little to simply look at October and smiled at her. God, she's beautiful.. She took one more before putting it away and walking over to them. She had been out of the hospital for a week, and next week she had her first therapy appointment that she was terrified to go to, but knew October would be there. The bandages still hugged her wrists and would for another week to ensure there was no infection and to keep the stitches from popping - they'd be taken out in a couple days, at least. "Your smile is the best thing that's ever happened to photography.."

[autumn-winters]

Don't move! Just stay there, okay?

Autumn grabbed her new camera - the one that cost so much, she laughed when she bought it, knowing her father would wonder why the hell she spent so much on a camera. She had bought it after two panic attacks on her way to Walmart; the first getting in the car and she actually threw up after getting out of it - and the second when they had to pass an aisle of hunting equipment (knives included), causing Autumn to nearly b-line it back outside. But she eventually got her camera. She discovered photography after writing began eluding her after the incident, and not only discovered she loved it, but that she was amazing at it - like her mother apparently was.

Now she was with October at a nearby park - a five minute walk that was still a chore to make, but as long as October was with her, she could gather the courage to make it there; and even have a good time, too. Autumn was still shattered, but October had found every last piece, so now it was just a matter of finding their places. "I have the perfect shot! Sasha, no! Stay with mommy!"

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

October smiled softly before a slight chuckle escaped her, standing up she leaned over and pressed her lips to Autumn’s softly, pulling away she grinned. “You and PEZ… I swear. You know what, I am going to buy one of those giant fish tanks, but instead of fish and whatever else, I am going to fill it with PEZ when we get our own place. I’ll ask her, but it most likely that she will.” She replied as she stood completely upright and moved back around to push Autumn back into the hospital. Just before they entered the building Autumn began to sing something and she let out a breath as she shook her head. “God, that movie is everywhere.” she laughed softly before finally entering the building, making her way to Autumn’s room.

[autumn-winters]

Autumn's face lit up a bit. "You know if you did that, all I'd be doing is eating PEZ and having sex with you for giving me the PEZ, right?" She started laughing - the first entirely genuine laugh since she left October all those months ago. "Wait..our place?" With effort, she turned her upper body around some to look into October's eyes. "I..like that. I like the sounds of that a lot.."

"Come on let's go and play!"

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

Shaking her head, October smiled. “Naturally.” She replied before her own smile fell at what Autumn had said. “Y-yes, we can…” She didn’t mean to stammer, but she was still worried about her.

Pulling back from the kiss, she moved around to the back of the wheelchair and began pushing her back towards the hospital. “Of course.” She replied with a smile even if Autumn couldn’t see it, but as soon as the woman continued to talk, she stopped and moved back around to the front of the wheelchair and crouched down in front of it taking Autumn’s hands in her own as gently as possible. “My mother is fine and believe me when I say she doesn’t hate you in the slightest.” She sighed softly. “CeeBee, I love you - I’m madly and deeply in love with you and we’re going to get you through this, okay? We’re going to get you past all of this and live happily ever after together.”

[autumn-winters]

In that moment, and left over doubt Autumn had about who October would choose completely disappeared. October was hers and she was October's. And in that moment, everything in the world felt right. "Do..you think your mom could brng us some blankets from home? Some pillows..and I may or may not have a stash of PEZ..." She wanted to feel at home - needed to - and sleeping in a white room, with or without October was torture. She wanted to build a blanket fort, putting the mattress on the floor and hiding themselves away where she could forget where she was and why she was there. She practically giggled at her next thought before singing it out loud. "Do you want to build a snowman?"

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

She nodded. “I like Autumn better. It’s who you most definitely are, couldn’t think of you with any other name. Well, other than CeeBee of course.” She bit her lip and then chuckled. Smiling as the other woman did at the news and then she shook her head playfully. “Who you planning to spy on?” She smiled softly. “Baby… stop trying to move your arms so much. I can tell how much it hurts you. But yes, he can’t hurt either of us anymore.” 

Getting off the bench, she moved forward and pressed her lips against Autumn’s. “I promise to eat a good breakfast tomorrow.” she spoke out against her lips.

[autumn-winters]

"You when you go get PEZ - gotta know when to send the pictures, right?" She blushed slightly, forcing her stomach to not give up what it just took down. She frowned to herself when October said she knew it hurt to move her wrists. They did..even eating hurt. "Can..we go back now, Roo? I don't feel safe out here.." Owen was gone, but there was a small lingering in her mind that probably had to do with the fact that she could barely sit up and feed herself t the moment, and it made her nervous. She hoped it wouldn't last. "And I'm cold.."

       Autumn kissed October back, being happier than she had ever remembered being with the woman. "Sleep with me tonight, Roo?" Part of her was nervous October would leave for the night, though not entirely sure why. "How's..your mom? She's been nothing but..well, a mom for me since..everything, you know?" She shrugged. "I never knew what it was like to have one, and ..she lived up to every fantasy I ever had and then some. And I'm so sorry for everything, too..I adore your mother. Do..you think she hates me for all this? What about you? I..put you in that position twice to..to watch me- and I still don't know if I can handle this, Roo... I'm scared.."

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

She smiled at her words, knowing that it had a greater meaning to it and she let out a soft breath as Autumn began to eat, feeling relieved the girl was getting something into her. She looked at her weirdly before reaching for her bag that was placed beside her in the wheelchair. Finding her I.D. she chuckled. “April Winters,” She read the name before looking up to her and her smile instantly fell as she can’t believe this information slipped her mind, probably because she was trying her best to just forget the whole incident - that and her thoughts were already preoccupied with many other things. “Owen’s dead…” she let out suddenly. “Don’t ask for the details though, just know that he can’t hurt you anymore.”

She frowned a little. “But I bought the food for you, so it’s yours, you need it more than me.” She began trying to get out of eating because really she wasn’t hungry.

[autumn-winters]

"Apparently. But I have all my original ID because it's who I am..I'm Autumn. April is a pretty name and all, but..it's not me." At the mention of him being dead, Autumn couldn't help but smile. "Hope it was painful." She looked to October, nodding towards the ID. "Hey, I have two identities now. We could do spy work." She laughed, feeling a huge weight from her shoulders, and she reached out to take October's hand, trying not to wince from the pain of moving her wrist. "He can't hurt you, either..or us."

       The word 'us' felt so good on her lips. "You have to eat a good breakfast tomorrow, then, okay?"

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

"Well, I promise not to leave you again," She quietly let out before she chuckled and shrugged. "So, I couldn’t really decide which one to get you and figured you might like one over the other more or just want the both of them." She smiled as she moved back to sit on the bench in front of Autumn and held them out to her. She watched in slight amusement as she mixed the soups together and then just stared at her for the hell of it, because she’s missed her so much. Autumn’s voice suddenly surrounded her and she shook her head a little. "Yeah, I’m not hungry." She let out even though she had barely touched any food all day, she just wasn’t hungry in the slightest. 

[autumn-winters]

"I promise, too.." Autumn left October once, but she'd never do it again. She took a small bite from it, chewing slowly, her stomach already not agreeing with her, but her taste buds disagreeing with her stomach. "Reach into my bag, Babe. Look at my I.D." She laughed, feeling like she was out of a movie. Because Owen was still out there, thinking she was dead, they had created a whole new identity for her. Her name to the rest of the world was April Winters, which she found slightly amusing in itself.

       "Please eat? For me?" She was worried about October not eating..she really should. Autumn ate about half of the soup before putting it down while shaking her head. "Can we save it?"

[october-grace]

Being back home is seriously fucking weird...

[october-grace]

As Autumn reached out and stopped her, October’s breath caught in her throat thinking that something was wrong due to the suddenness of it. But then her words followed and she let out a small breath of relief before smiling again, leaning forward she pressed her lips to the other woman’s in a quick kiss. “I’ve missed yours more.” she whispered against her lips before pulling back as Autumn released her.

She ordered and paid for both the cream of chicken and the broccoli soup, waiting as patiently as she could while they served it up. Rocking back and forth on her feet subconsciously. Finally they handed it to her and she smiled softly before thanking the man behind the counter and rushing back out the store, her eyes instantly found Autumn and watched her, only taking them off her while crossing the road. Once she reached her, she noticed how her hands were gripping the arm chair and she frowned. “Baby, are you alright?” She asked a little worried.

[autumn-winters]

Autumn nodded, slowly releasing her grip on the chair. "I just..forgot." She shook her head. "I don't like being out by myself after dark.." She looked up at October, chuckling when she saw she got both. "You're insanely perfect, Baby." There was no way she'd even be able to finish one, though, and the chance of her keeping even half of one down was unlikely, but she sure as hell was going to try. She took them both from October, taking one of the cups from under it as they were double cupped, hen carefully mixed half the chicken and half the broccoli one together - she couldn't decide. She poured what was left into the chicken into what was left f the broccoli, double cupping them both again, covering one and setting it aside. "Are you not hungry, Roo?" She hadn't seen her eat all day.