Autumn groaned as she looked over at her alarm clock. It was 12:30am and she couldn't get back to sleep, she was too thirsty. Admitting defeat she dragged herself out of bed, making sure to be as quiet as possible. Once she'd descended the stairs she headed straight for the kitchen. She drank two glasses of water in quick succession, before pouring a third to take back to her room. Turning to leave, she stopped in her tracks as she turned to face the dining room. A solitary figure was slumped over the table and she knew immediately that it was Reece. Letting out a huge sigh, she placed the glass of water by the sink before making her way towards him. Both she and Reece were fairly stoic individuals so they struggled to really talk about their feelings, but she knew just how much weight her big brother carried upon his teenage shoulders. All she wished for was the ability to take his shame away, he was so hard on himself and no matter how many times she tried to reassure him, he thought he was a failure.
Once Autumn was stood next to Reece, she gently placed her hand on his upper arm. He began to stir and when he realised where he was, he sat up suddenly. "Reece, please go up to bed, it half past midnight." Autumns heart sank as she watched her big brother shake his head vigorously "he didn't dismiss me Aut." She sat herself down in the chair next to him before saying "you're not a little boy anymore. He won't even remember in the morning. The amount of food he thinks you need is ridiculous."
Reece finally looked into Autumns eyes as he replied "I know. I just can't do it Aut, I feel rooted to the spot. As long as there's food left on my plate, I feel like a failure. It's taken me hours to finish and I know he's totally forgotten about me, but I can't move." He took in a long, shaky breath before looking down at the ground. Autumn was right, he wasn't a child anymore but the fear that he felt remained the same. He was so ashamed of himself, for failing to stand up to his father, for failing to protect his sister, for being so weak and pathetic. If he tried to leave the table, his heart would race and his palms would start sweating. Panic would take over his mind, his body and his soul and in that moment, absolute terror would violently grip his heart. He felt like he was dying.
Reece looked up when he heard Autumns chair moving across the floor. He observed as she wandered off into the lounge, returning moments later with a thick, knitted blanket. Wordlessly, she sat back down before throwing the blanket around them both. Reece wrapped his arms around his sister and smiled slightly when she did the exact same to him. They were both acutely aware of how desperately they needed each other. As Reece listened to Autumn's measured breathing, he wondered just how many times he'd held his little sister within his arms as their Father ranted and raved, smashing plates and glasses downstairs. Images flashed through his mind of their Father, pointing at Autumn and calling her worthless while Reece screamed at him to stop speaking to her that way.
Hours later, Roger rolled his eyes when he walked into the dining room and spotted his children. He was so sick of their insolence and their weak willed attitudes. They believed that their bond was unbreakable and no matter what, they consistently stuck together like glue. He watched as they slept, resisting the urge to slam his fist down onto the table and wake them abruptly.
Roger smirked as he considered his plans, soon to be put into action.
In his experience, nothing was unbreakable and very shortly, he intended to prove it.
YOU ARE READING
THE LAST LEAVES OF AUTUMN - (TNN - PROM NIGHT- AUTUMN/REECE/MIA)
Fanfiction**WORK IN PROGRESS** What really happened before, during and after prom night? How did Roger's treatment and manipulations affect Autumn, Reece and Mia?
