[✔] Green Eyes || PJ Liguori

Chapter Ten

~PJ~

"Open up, Autumn!" I say, banging on the door with my fist. I squeeze my eyes shut,

Breathe in, 

Breathe out.

*Flashback*

Autumn falls to the floor while her hands try to grip her chest. I rush towards her and immediately know she's having an anxiety attack.

"shhh," I try to calm her down. It's not working. I sit her up on my lap and make her face me. I wrap my arms tightly around her and start breathing deeply. I read this somewhere and they said it would help regulate her breathing.

"Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out." My voice and her irregular breathing pace is the only sounds echoing through her empty room. Eventually, she was able to copy the pace of my breathing and after a few more minutes, she calmed down.

*Flashback over*

I grip my hair as I slide down the door. I let out a sigh of frustration as I draw my knees to my chest. My hands cover my face in guilt.

"Why do you want me here anyway?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Autumn's voice bounces around my head. 

Why am I doing this? I ask myself.

That's when it strikes me. I've been blinded by selfishness; I wanted her all to myself. I kept her here for absolutely nothing but to be in my company. Another sudden pang of guilt hits me straight in the chest.

I have to do the right thing...

I bounce up to my feet, a thud echoes as I land on the wooden floor. I dart around the cabin as I pick up Autumn's things. I walk to my room and take out her backpack from the closet, carefully placing her belongings neatly in her bag. Speeding through the the hall, I walk to the things I just "bought". I pick up a bottle of water and drop it into her bag as well as some of her favorite biscuits.

I leave it by the door along with her shoes and penny board. I take a moment to contemplate; she can't ride through the woods with just that tiny board. I go to the storage room and rummage through the junk I've thrown in here; and then I spot it.

I pull out my long-forgotten long board. A slight smile slowly creeps up on my face as I reminisce the memories I had created while I used this. I brush off the dust and go back to the living room. I replace the penny board and set the longboard in front of the door with Autumn's bag on top of it.

One last thing..

I jog to my room and pull out a roll of silver metallic paper. I rip it into tiny pieces and scatter them to a trail leading to her bag and my longboard. I leave the key inserted in the keyhole then take a step back.

I take a deep breath and look around the room. The only thing I have to do is to hide. I walk to the basement and slightly close the door.

~Autumn~

I dry my tears with the sleeve of PJ's sweater and stand up. I can't hide in here forever.

Breath in, 

Breath out.

Apparently it is the man outside this door who taught me to calm down. I grasp the cold metal knob and twist it slowly, I peep my head out and see no signs of him. I look down to the floor and see there is shiny paper scattered everywhere. My eyebrows knit in confusion.

I step out the room and take a closer look, it leads to the front door. As I continue to follow the trail of paper my confusion slowly dissolves; especially when I see the door.

My shoes, bag and a longboard peacefully sit in front of the door. 

Does this mean he's letting me go?

I hesitate for a second; do I want to leave? The moment I thought of my mom, I remembered my motive, I want to set things straight and ask her why she lied to me. I slip on my converse and sling my bag onto my shoulders. I look at the door in pure nervousness, I notice the key that was left in the keyhole so I twist it. 

A second after I hear it click my heart begins to race, but I waste no more time and pick up the longboard. I turn around to close the door, my eyes drift to the metallic paper sprinkled across the cabin; I couldn't help it, I scoop up a couple of pieces into my palms and shove them in my pockets. I don't want to forget this.

I walk off the small wooden patio and slowly make my way down the three steps. I stare at what seems like a never ending path into the woods as I breath slowly. I set the board down and hop on, I push onto the ground to move forward.

I look back at the cabin, feeling a sorrow pit form in my stomach. Even though I didn't have much fun there, it felt most like home. It saddens me that I'm leaving that behind,

No, I will come back.

I see PJ stand by the window and wave. Tears glaze my eyes as I wave back at him; I look back to the path I'm on as I try to make my way back home.