Generations: The Long Game

Little Boy Blues

Autumn woke to the drone of the oxygen and the beeps of the monitors. In the week they had been there he had made some improvements but was still dependent on the oxygen to keep his saturation up. She glanced at the time. They would be getting Lili ready to head to nursery. She wanted to see her or to at least video chat, but knew now wasn't the time. Marjorie and Reece would have their hands full between the two two year olds and the almost one year old. They didn't need her calling and gumming up the works.

She looked across the room to the tiny boy. His grandmother would arrive soon. After watching him have no visitors for two full days she had all but given up hope that this little boy had anyone in the world who cared for him. Then she turned up. The first day the woman arrived Autumn had wondered if she was a volunteer. Someone who came in and held babies or did other small tasks in the hospital just to feel like they were still useful in the world. She tugged at Autumn's heartstrings even then, but the second morning burst her heart wide open.

The grey-haired woman had arrived while Autumn was down the hall getting coffee. As she passed her, her eyes shifted to the tiniest little boy in the woman's arms. She let a half smile cross her face. The idea that he had someone to hold him even if only for a few hours was a comfort to her. She found herself focused in on his tiny fingers wrapped around the woman's thumb. His fresh new skin in stark contrast to her older and thinning skin.

As her eyes drifted up, her heart ached when she noticed the older woman's tears. She defied her own nature and the urge to walk away swiftly. "I'm... are you alright?" Autumn's voice trembled as she stumbled over the words stealing a glance in Ben's direction trying to ground herself. "My son ... well my son's right over there. If ... if you need anything ... " she stopped. Feeling foolish she turned to return to Ben with her coffee.

"Young lady?" She nearly didn't turn back. Having been years since she was called that, but she had a sinking feeling and turned. "Young lady, what's your name?" Autumn noticed the accent right away. American. "Dear?" She visibly shook her head. "Sorry, it's Autumn. Did you need something?" The elderly woman smiled a sweet smile. "If your son is settled just now, I could use a bit of company. I ..." Autumn saw the sadness rise again. She looked back toward Ben again before pulling a chair over and sitting.

"David, my son, and his wife ... they ... they had ... there was an accident. They didn't make it." Autumn looked down feeling a lump grow in her throat. "We're all each other has now. I just ..." the older woman sobbed. Autumn looked around but seeing no one else around awkwardly patted the woman's knee. "Can I get you a cup of coffee or maybe some tea. I'm not sure you would like it here." Her normal confidence seemed to have abandoned her.

As she came back with the tea, she heard the woman whispering to the little boy. "It's just us but we'll figure it out. I promise." A twinge took her breath at the words. She had spent a lifetime feeling alone but she always at least knew Reece was out there somewhere. This woman had no one but this tiny little boy to cling to. She placed the cup in the woman's shaking hand and turned to go. "Oh! I didn't get your name." The elderly woman looked up with a sweet smile. "Genevieve, dear. My name is Genevieve."

As the days passed Autumn found herself looking forward to the woman's arrival. She regaled her daily with stories of her son and daughter-in-law. She hadn't grown up far from where they were now. Was an orphan with no siblings 'poor soul'. That phrase stood out to Autumn.

*****

Autumn's eyes were heavy as she tried to blink the sleep away. "Autumn? Autumn? Wake up Autumn." The familiar raven-haired nurse loomed over her. "Autumn they've taken Ben off the oxygen and he is holding his own, but have you seen Genevieve?" The brunette tried to shake herself awake. "Not since lunch. I've been holding Charlie for her so she can eat." She looked up at Vivian. "Charlie? Is he..." She trailed off as Vivian put her hand on her shoulder. "Autumn he's fine. There is a woman here looking for her" Yawning she tried to think. "The chapel Viv! She goes to the chapel."

Autumn watched from across the room. With Ben in her arms for the first time in two weeks she found it hard to peel her eyes from him, but when she heard the elderly woman sobbing she couldn't help but look up. She felt her own eyes sting as tears began to flow.

*****

Autumn sat in the rocker with Ben in one arm and Charlie in the other as the two women sat in comfortable silence. They had learned early on that neither required a lot of conversation. The mere existence of the other was comfort enough. As the elderly woman ate, she kept stealing glances at the brunette. "You and your young man you have two children don't you?"

"Yes we have Ben and his older sister Lili." She looked from Charlie to Ben. "Genevieve, you should know... well Ben is being released tomorrow. We'll be going home. The woman's hands trembled as she reached for Autumn's knee. "I know dear. Charlie won't be here much longer himself. Another day or two I think if we are lucky." The brunette stopped the rocker. "Lucky?" The older woman rubbed her hands together. "Once he is released ..." She trailed off staring into the brunette's green eyes. "Well they're taking him from me Autumn."