Scattered Leaves

Chapter 2: 11 days

For Autumn, lunch couldn't have come soon enough. She waited for Devon in the same hall they bumped into each other. She sat on the floor, ipod in hand listening to Broken by Seether Ft. Amy Lee. A tap on her shoulder made her jump and take one headphone out of her ear.

"Hey!" Devon said with a sweet smile. "Want to go for a walk?"

She gave him a shy smile and nodded. "I'd love to"

She got to her feet and followed Devon outside and to the edge of the woods. He reached toward her and held her hand in his.

"C'mon, I love walking in the woods."

Devon put his bookbag by a tree and smiled at her. She was skeptical at first, but he was the only person she could feel she could relate to. She threw her bookbag beside his and gestured for him to lead the way. He walked over a fallen tree and held Autumn's hand as she jumped over it.

"So, what happened that made you do it?" She asked.

"Oh.. Well my dad used to beat me. He ended up killing my mom and I never forgave him for it. When i got to my foster home I met someone that i considered my brother. He ended up dying in a car accident." Devon stopped and sat down on a fallen tree and patted for her to sit beside him. "When i got placed in another foster home i started cutting. At school people made fun of me. I just lost hope and wanted to die. Eventually they kicked me out and I got into the home I am in now. I got another brother, Brian. He's the one that found me shirtless, covered in blood, knife in hand and a large slit on each wrist. I almost died."

"Why didn't you try again if you wanted it?"

"Because I realized that no matter how much shit you go through it's not worth dying over. Sure, I lost the people dear to me but it's not something they would've wanted. I'll meet more people and help them. I can make a difference. I can feel it." He looked at her. "What about you? Why are you doing it?"

"Well," She began, pulling her sleeves to her hands. "When I was 5 years old, my mother died. I started living with my father but he turned into a drunk, he lost his jobs and got depressed. I was pretty sure he was doing drugs too but I could never prove it. When I was 12 my dad left and never came back. I was alone for twenty-four hours before the cops came and told me that he was shot to death. I lost my parents. I went to group homes, got bullied all the time, went to foster homes and I decided to start cutting."

"Did you start because of the numb feeling?"he asked.

"Yes, I did. You understand that?" She looked back at him.

"I do."

"I finally found someone that I can relate to!" She said with a smile.

"I'm going to help you." he said taking her pale hand in his. "No matter what." They stared at each other for a moment. "Do you have a cell phone?"

"Yes, why?"

"Add my number. Call or text me anytime. Even if it's four in the morning. I want to help you."

She took her phone out. It was an odd phone. It was a black rectangle with six buttons on the front below the large screen. She flipped the top of the phone to reveal a small keyboard. She started to type something. D-E-V-O-N

"What's the number?" She asked without looking up.

"1-506-555-0126"

"Okay" She punched in the numbers and put her phone away. "Thank you."

Instead of saying a word he took her hand again. "I know what it's like Autumn, I don't want anyone else going through what i did without help." He took her other hand."Can I see, please?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears and she nodded. Her hair bobbing up and down with her head. He pulled her sleeves up to her elbows and saw how bad it actually was. He was shocked. He counted, 1-5-10-20-28-30. A lump formed in his throat as he examined how much flesh he was actually seeing. Each raw cut showed blood, meat, and a story that always seemed to be the same. The same sad story.

A drop fell onto one of her new cuts. Her sobs were silent. He looked back at her, pulling her sleeves down her arms at the same time. Her tears flowed down her red cheeks. He stood up and pulled her to her feet, throwing her arms around his neck. He hugged her tight, which made her cry even more.

"It'll be okay. Shhh." he held her for a long while until all he could hear was her shaky breathing. "You'll be okay Autumn." Her arms tightened around his neck and his arms tightened around her waist. "I'll always be here for you. Always."

She took a deep, shaky breath. "Thank you, but how can you be so concerned? You barely know me."

"That doesn't matter. I care, that's all you need to remember."

She nodded again, burrying her face further into his neck. They stood there for what seemed like hours. She breathed on his neck, sobbing every once in a while.

"I have something to tell you." She said finally.

"What is it?"

"I...I am going to end it... everything.."

His eyes widened and he fought his own tears. He swallowed and tightened his grip around her. "When?"

"Eleven days.."

"I have eleven days to make a difference?"

She burried her face into his neck more and he felt a warm tear go down his collar. "I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Don't be, I know what it's like, I had no help, but I will help you!"

She lifted her head and looked up at him. Her face red and her violet eyes bloodshot. He lifted his hand and wiped her cheeks. He pulled her head toward him and kissed her forehead.

"Why did you do that?"

"Sorry, I thought it would help."

A faint smile formed on her lips. "It did. Thank you."

"I told you, I'll always help you in anyway I can."

"Before I die, I want to find love."

"With someone at school?"

"Yes."

"Like who?"

"I don't know yet." She stared into his emerald green eyes.

"You'll find it. I know you will." He smiled and guided her head to his shoulder. He carressed her and hummed a soft tune, rocking her in his arms.

Autumn was so relieved to have him care so much for her. His humming was soothing, empowering. His voice was so sweet and so mezmerizing. Her eyes closed and she just lost herself in his voice.

"I want to love you." She mouthed.

He kissed her head softly and rubbed her back. "We should be getting back."

"Yeah, we should." She squeezed him tight and let him go. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." He took her hand. "I will always help."