wintumn - their love.

38.

The next morning, Autumn woke up feeling better, though still slightly worn out from the exhaustion that had plagued her the day before. She stretched her arms and turned over to see Mayella peacefully asleep in her crib beside the bed. The baby monitor glowed softly on the nightstand, and Autumn smiled gently. She was grateful for a quiet day with just her youngest daughter. Winter had taken Harlow out to run some errands, giving Autumn the much-needed break she had been yearning for.

After a lazy breakfast, Autumn spent most of the morning in the living room with Mayella, who giggled as her mother tickled her belly and played with her soft toys. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the hardwood floors. Everything felt calm, and Autumn felt a rare sense of peace, something she hadn't felt in weeks.

By mid-afternoon, Mayella started to get fussy. Autumn thought it was just time for her usual nap, so she picked her up, rocked her gently in her arms, and hummed a soft lullaby as she had done so many times before. Soon, Mayella's eyelids fluttered shut, and she fell asleep. Autumn cradled her for a few moments longer, watching her tiny chest rise and fall.

But as the minutes passed, something felt off.

Autumn's heart clenched in her chest, her instinct kicking in. She laid Mayella down on the couch next to her, carefully observing her breathing. Her breath seemed... shallow, too shallow. Panic began to bubble up inside Autumn, her hand trembling as she touched her daughter's chest again. Her movements were slow, uncertain.

"Mayella? Mayella, baby..." she whispered, her voice shaking.

But Mayella didn't stir.

Autumn's breath caught in her throat as she checked her daughter's pulse. It was faint. Too faint. Her heart hammered in her chest, and everything began to blur around her.

"Mayella!" Autumn's voice cracked with terror.

With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and dialed emergency services, her mind racing as she tried to remain calm enough to speak. The operator answered, and Autumn could barely get the words out.

"My—my baby. She's unconscious, she's not breathing properly. Please, you need to come now!"The operator remained calm, giving instructions, but Autumn barely heard them through the pounding of her own heartbeat. She began CPR on Mayella, her hands shaking as she pressed on her tiny chest, tears streaming down her face.

Time felt like it had slowed to a crawl. Minutes felt like hours as she waited for help, her mind consumed with panic and fear. When the paramedics finally arrived, they took Mayella from Autumn's arms and immediately started working on her. Autumn stood frozen, watching them with wide, tear-filled eyes as they attempted to save her baby girl.

They moved quickly, rushing Mayella into the ambulance. Autumn followed in a daze, feeling like she was outside of her own body, disconnected from reality. Her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't even reach for her phone to call Winter. Her mind kept repeating the same haunting thought: This can't be happening.

At the hospital, everything was a blur of doctors, nurses, and machines. They worked on Mayella for hours, but the longer they worked, the more grim the situation became. Autumn sat in a cold chair in the waiting room, her hands clutching her phone so tightly her knuckles were white. She had called Winter, who was rushing to the hospital with Harlow, but he hadn't arrived yet.

And then, a doctor approached.

Autumn's heart stopped. She stood up, feeling the floor fall out from beneath her. The doctor's expression said everything before he even opened his mouth.