Waiting For Autumn

Chapter 2 - August

August 19th, 2015.

Autumn is 15

The morning was slowly coming to life in my little neighborhood of Bridgeport, tucked away in Chicago, Illinois.
You could barely see the sun come up between all the buildings from my little apartment.

I was was already awake, the smell of coffee fills the rooms, as I get ready to go to work.
6am blinked on and off my alarm clock, as "Honey, Honey" began playing on the radio for the third time.

I groan, realizing I pushed the snooze button again, instead of turning it off when I woke up this morning. Stepping over the piles of dirty and clean clothes heaped up on the floor, I make my way to my alarm, to turn it off. Reaching for the clock, across my bed, my fingers finally  found the 'off' switch, and I found relief in the silence when the music abruptly stopped.

I sigh, and crawl off my bed, to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Looking for a ponytail holder, I was surprised to find one already on my wrist.
Taking it off my hand, I swiftly pull up my sleek auburn hair in a high ponytail.
I then fumble through my makeup bag to find my mascara.
I look up in the mirror, staring at the monotonous reflection looking back at me, as I rub the mascara brush on my thick lashes. 
Smeared eyeliner from the day before covered the underneath of my eye.
My dark green eyes stare back at their reflection with a specific longing, but the identification of what that may be is unknown to my own conscience.
After I put all my makeup away, I make my way to the kitchen, and poured the deep black coffee into my favorite mug, and enjoyed my breakfast of a cup of coffee out on the cold balcony.
The sounds of cars, trucks, and horns blaring already fill the air around me. The sky was a beautiful smear of lavender and dark blue. I squint, looking at the horizon, and the sun was splashed a mix of yellow, orange, and magenta.
The off-seasoned chilly air bit at the tops of my ears, and fingertips, but I enjoyed these mornings anyway. This is the kind of life I thrived for. Although the city mornings were enjoyable, the thought that couldn't leave my mind was how beautiful it would be to spend a morning in the country. A noise interrupted my already not-so-silent morning, and I  went inside to answer the phone.

"Hello?"
My quiet voice pierced the silence of my apartment.

"Autumn, the school system has called many times and said you haven't answered any of their letters this year. You know you have to answer them to stay in school."

It was my aunt Robin on the other line, her anxious voice made it hard to stay calm, but I was already used to it.

"Robin, we've already talked about this. You know I can't continue school right now. I've already had lots of good years of education, and I'm trying to support both of us right now."

"I can support us fine, I have a job!"
Robin exclaimed.

"Not a good one. And you know it's not a good company. A newspaper company will never stay in business.  You know that.  No one even reads the newspaper anymore.  It's really going down hill. They had to cut your pay multiple times in the past 6 months, and you can't keep up on your bills."

"Then why don't you move back in?"
My aunt whines.

I sigh.

"Listen, aunt Robin, it's easier for me to keep my job, being where I'm at now. I can get there faster. I just can't do school any more. Please, you have to understand. I'm smart, I'm above my grade level, and I can make it into a good college."
I wait for my aunt's reply.

"Fine, fine. If you say so.  Can you come see me after work today? I would like to show you something."

"Sure, Aunt Robin.
Love you."

"Love you too, Autumn."

*Click*

I sigh. I won't miss school, but it'll be hard for me to get into college, no matter what I plead to aunt Robin.
My mom would have wanted me to get into a good college.
At least, I think that's what she would've wanted. There was no way of knowing.
I hurry and throw on my waitress outfit, and, after brushing my teeth, ran out of the door. I know the 5 sets of stairs ahead of me, so I begin to mentally prepare myself for the usual exercise my body has to withhold throughout the mornings and evenings that I stay there.
After the exasperating run down all five flights of stairs, I seek out my red and white bike that I got for Christmas two years ago.
So I look behind the dumpster, (my usual hiding place,) and see my bike.
Wheeling it out, I hop on it, and continuing my daily exercise, peddle fast towards the neighborhood's old diner.
I pass the things that I have known for many years, Grandma's Bakery, a downhill gas station, and a sad looking house, that hasn't been lived in for quite a while.
Many colors flash by my eyes.
'So much excitement that's out there.'
'And I'm trapped in this little town. In the small memories that are here.'
I pass a small green sign labeled:
AIRPORT, NEXT EXIT.
My eyes dart to the ground, as a pain in my chest increases, a longing. I try to let it out through a heavy sigh. But, like every other time, it doesn't work.

I long to reach for the doors of the airport.
So many opportunities...
I long to inhale the strong scent of chances, people, suitcases, An escape.
I whip my head, trying to push the idea out of my head. It is not important. I must focus on my goals. I have a family member to support. I cannot give in to my selfish ideas and leave everything behind so, so quickly. So abruptly. Could I?
No. I shouldn't be so childish to even think of such things.
Being stuck up in my mind, I was surprised to find out that I was already at the diner. 
I jump off my bike, and wheel it over to the side of the building, where they put a bike rack in just for me.
Since I'm, "like family."
Quote on quote of my manager.
I run in the building, and punching in my time card, grabbing a white apron, and quickly fastening it around my neck and waist. I begin taking orders, pouring coffee, and at the same time, placing a fake smile on the face that wishes to be somewhere else.

'There's got to be more than this.'
My busy mind begs.
'There's got to be.'