THE GREATEST GIFT - (TNN - AUTUMN & REECE)

CHAPTER THREE

"Why did you keep the medal?" Autumn had wanted to ask Reece about that for a while.

"Medal? Oh, the wrestling one? Well, I knew how much wrestling meant to you. It was your escape from everything, so I also knew that medal was important to you. Plus, I always felt if I kept it, we were still linked somehow. It was like a promise that we could repair our relationship one day."

Autumn felt a lump in her throat as she was reminded once again that all this time they could have been friends. She felt so much rage because no matter what, they would never get that time back. Sometimes she wondered if she was completely broken - nothing could ever comfort her completely, not even Winter. Without thinking Autumn shifted sideways, closing the gap between her and her brother. Without speaking, she gently rested her head on his shoulder and in response Reece instinctively wrapped his arms around her, cuddling her like a toddler.

They sat for a while, neither daring to speak in case the spell was broken. For the first time in years both siblings felt genuine comfort - their scrambled thoughts were finally silenced. They both knew what was coming next but they enjoyed the calm while they could. Reece heard as Autumn finally took in an enormous, shaky breath before bursting into tears. Every single sob made Reece want to die - he wished so desperately to take her pain away.

"I'm so sorry Aut. For everything. You were always on my mind, every day we didn't speak. I know you don't need me to protect you but I'll always try anyway. You think I kept you safe but you're the one who saved me. If it hadn't been for you, I'd have had nothing to live for Aut." He suddenly realised that the words to express how he felt about his sister simply didn't exist. Nothing in this lifetime could articulate how much she meant to him.

"I...hate...myself...Reece." Autumn couldn't catch her breath, so her words were punctuated by sobs. "I'm...just...like...him...I'm...a...bad...person".

"You're nothing like that monster Aut, neither of us are. You aren't a bad person, look at how much you've grown and how strong you are. I'm so proud of the woman you've become, despite everything. Do you really think Winter would worship you the way he does if you were a bad person?" Reece would never allow Autumn to think this way about herself. Yes she was still guarded but she had opened up so much, especially since being with Winter. He had helped her understand that she could show empathy and compassion and it wouldn't make people assume she was weak.

Autumns breathing had started to calm down and as her sobs started to subside, Reece understood intuitively that she wanted him to let go for now.