struggle ↠ mgc [on hold]

10

autumn

Autumn was at that cafe for two hours, eating, drinking and constantly engrossed in discussion with Ashton.

Thankfully, he didn't ask her anything to do with her time in hospital or at the psychiatric ward. Although she was somewhat comfortable talking about it, she preferred not to because after all, the past had passed.

As the conversation topics strayed from Ashton's drumming, childhood memories - most of them were embarrassing ones - and superheroes, Autumn realized that she hadn't feel this at ease whilst conversing with someone for a long time.

So, when Ashton's car parked outside her house a part of her didn't want to get out because she had immensely enjoyed her time with him and didn't know when she would see him again.

"There's another band practice on Friday," Ashton informed her as she took her seatbelt off. "I'm sure Luke will invite you but if he doesn't then this is your invite."

Autumn picked her bag off the floor and lifted it into her lap.

If she remembered correctly, her mum was inviting several of her employees over for dinner on Friday and Autumn didn't want to be there when it happened anyway.

"I'll be there," She said, opening the car door.

"Cya."

Autumn smiled weakly at Ashton before getting out and closing the door.

-

"Was that Ashton Irwin?" Her mum asked her the second Autumn had stepped through the door.

Startled, Autumn placed a hand to her chest and stepped backwards.

Why was her mum home at this time?

She met her mum's steady gaze and slowly nodded, knowing whatever her mother was about so say wouldn't be good.

To try and subside her anxiety, Autumn chewed on her lower lip.

"When did you start talking to him again?" She asked earnestly, pressing her lips into a thin line.

"Yesterday," Autumn replied, her tone betraying her indignation.

"I don't think that's a good idea." The disapproval was both clear in her mum's voice and her facial expression.

Autumn's eyes widened at what her mum had just said.i

"Why do you care?" The words slipped out of her mouth but once they were said, she didn't regret it.

With an indecipherable expression, her mum opened her mouth to speak but shut it.

Huffing in annoyance, Autumn walked past her mum and towards the stairs.

"Well, I don't want my daughter trying to kill herself again!" Autumn's mum exclaimed.

Autumn came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and turned around to face her mum.

"You still think it's his fault?" She said apoplectically. It was hard for her not to scream at her mum for what she had just said.

There was no response. Just the same blank expression. "He didn't give me depression. You know what triggered it and yet you blamed my best friend!"

Seething, Autumn didn't bother to wait for a response and she ran up the stairs as fast as she could and rushed into her bedroom.

She slammed the door behind her, took her bag off dropped it to the floor.

Then, with her body resting against the door, she sank to the floor. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them.

Her emotions felt bottled up inside of and all she wanted to do was burst into tears.