One Autumn Day

Chapter Two

"Good morning, Autumn. How did you sleep last night?"
"Good morning, Dr. Woods. I slept fine, thank you for asking."
"Such good manners. Well you know it's time to take your medicine."
"Okay."
"Here you go."
He hands me two Morphine and one Minastrin (which is a chewable.) I take them to make him happy. But when I take this medicine he starts to act really weird.
"Alright good girl, Autumn. Now why don't you get dressed for today."
"Okay."
Here is where the weirdness begins. When I get dressed he watches me, so I turn the other way.
"It's okay. You don't have to turn away from me. I'm your doctor. I need to check on these things sometimes."
"It's weird. Doctors aren't suppose to look at me the way you do."
"..."
Sometimes I wonder why they call this place Maniac Hospital.
"If you want to question the way I do my job then go right ahead but if not, then be quiet unless I ask you to talk and let me do my job."
"Okay."
Just then the nurse walked in, "Is everything okay in here?"
"Yes everything is fine. I was just leaving."
"Oh."
Both of them left my room and so I had some peace and quiet. As I looked out the window, at the blooming cherry blossom tree, I began to think about Nathan (my childhood friend.) I wonder if he remembers me and what he's doing right now. I've known Nathan since seventh grade.
Actually in eighth grade I formed a crush on him, but I don't think he ever knew. My friends told me that Nathan and I were perfect for each other, but he was already dating someone. Actually, I take back what I said earlier, he didn't know I had a crush on him until we went on this field trip thing. I accidentally told him that I really liked him.
"Autumn, are you okay?"
It was Elizabeth (Liz) my friend across the hall.
"Did Dr. Woods watch you again?"
"Yes, he did."
"Oh. I'm so sorry. I wish we could get rid of him."
"Yeah me too."
"I think he 'like, likes' you."
"Why would you think that?"
"Well one he doesn't watch anyone else get dressed and two you are the prettiest girl in this entire building"
"The first reason may be true but the second is not."
"Well believe it or not but you are the prettiest girl here. It's no wonder all the males watch after you."
"That's not true."
"Oh really. Who is your nurse?"
"Andy Stone."
"And your doctor?"
"Dr. Woods."
"And..."
"Okay, okay. I get it!"
"See."
"Yeah, yeah. But that still doesn't mean I'm the prettiest one here, I mean what about Amy?"
"You mean Amy the lunch lady?"
"Okay, what about Crystal?"
"The fact that you would even consider her pretty, makes you crazy. Just face it, your the prettiest girl here."
"..."
"Anyway, how did you sleep last night? Did you have that nightmare again?"
"Yes I had it again."
"Well did you get any further this time?
"Yes."
"Well tell me from the beginning."
"Okay fine."
"Okay."
"I was sitting in the living room, while my parents were in the other room screaming at each other. I try to make out what they were saying, but I couldn't. Next thing I know, I hear gunshots. The yelling stops. I run into the room and see my mom and dad lying on the floor with a puddle of blood around them and the front door wide open. A man with a top hat, elegant suit, and pistol gun was running down the sidewalk. I turn and run out the door to chase after him, but I'm too little. I can't run as fast as he can especially since he got a head start. He sees me chasing him so he drops the gun, by the time I get to it the police are by my side. 'Mam why do you have a gun in your hand?' 'I was chasing after that man because he killed my parents and he dropped it.' But when I went to point at the man, there was no one there. They handcuffed me and took me to a psych hospital. I stayed there for about three months and then I was put into foster care. No one adopt's me because I am one of the older kids. So at 12 years old, I run away. This nice family finds me and takes me in. I went to a private school and got bullied everyday. So I ran away."
"Is that as far as you got?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"..."
"I'm so sorry, Autumn."
"it's not your fault, Liz."
Actually that dream is almost true, but it's missing the part where I met Nathan (Mí otra mitad.)
"Let's go get some breakfast and we can talk about something else."
"Okay."
As soon as we get to the cafeteria, I see someone who looks a lot like Chassen. It can't be him, he's in jail.
"Hey, Liz. Wait up."
"Okay."
"Sorry, I thought I saw someone."
"Oh, that's okay."
We sit down and eat.
"Liz?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you think they call this place Maniac Hospital?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking?"
"No reason in particular, I was just wondering."
"Oh," I'm beginning to think it's because all of the staff are nuts. "You don't have to worry about it though. You get to leave in like two weeks."
"Oh each. I forgot about that."
"If I were you, I would be so happy that I wouldn't think about else but that."
"..."
"Autumn, I need you to come with me." It's Andy.
"Okay. But may I ask where we are going?"
"You will see when we get there."
"Oh." He takes me into Dr. Woods' office.
"Ahh. Autumn, you're just who I was looking for."
"What for exactly?"
"Well you see, since you are leaving in two weeks I have to give you a bunch of final tests."
"Oh..."
"Yes, so please have a seat."
"Okay."
"Let's begin. I'm going to start with some questions."
"Okay."
"What is your full name?"
"Autumn Quinn Johnson."
"Good. What is your date of birth?"
"August 4th, 2002."
"Okay. How old are you?"
"I'm 19 years old."
"Okay. Where were you born?"
"Saint Louis, Missouri."
"Good. Where did you grow up?"
"England."
"Ahh, nice. I just now realized that you have a thick accent."
"Yes I do."
"Okay, mobbing on. Have you been in any relationships in the last two years?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Two."
"Okay. Have you had any relationships with the staff here at the hospital?"
"No, I have not."
"Okay, that's it for the questions."
"Okay."
"Now for your hearing and vision tests."
"Okay."
"First, let's do hearing. Let me put this thing in your left ear. Okay good. No your right. Fantastic. Let's move on to your vision test."
"Okay."
"Put your chin on this thing here and look straight ahead. Okay good. Now what do you see?"
"I see a tiny black dot in the middle of a nonagon."
"Okay good. Now close your right eye and tell me what you see."
"I see a heart with an arrow through it."
"Good. Now open your right eye and close your left. Tell me what you see."
"I see a diamond ring in a box."
"Okay good. You're all done."
"Okay."
"Wait, Autumn one last thing."
I turn around and face him. He walks up to me and kisses me. I push him off.
"What are you doing Dr. Woods?"
"Umm."
"I'm leaving now. Goodbye."
"What's wrong Autumn?"
"Liz, you were right."
"Right about what?"
"Dr. Woods does like me!"
"How do you know?"
"He just kissed me."
"Wow!"
"Yeah, 'wow' is right. I have to get out of here."
"Well how are you going to do that?"
"I'm not exactly sure."
"Warning! Here comes Dr. Woods."
"What!?!"
"Yep."
"Okay come here and talk to me, maybe he will walk past the room."
"Okay."
"Elizabeth, I need to talk to Autumn...alone."
"..." Liz walks out of the room and Dr. Woods shuts the door behind her.
"What do you want?"
"You never let me finish."
"Finish what!?! Finish kissing me!?!"
"Well, not exactly."
"Okay, than what did you want to finish?"
"About that kiss, I'm sorry I couldn't keep it in anymore."
"Well that's not right. You're my doctor!"
"I understand that. That is why I think you should leave today."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
He leaves the room and Liz walks in. "Why are you smiling? What did he say?"
"I get to leave today. I'm free."
"Really! Well what are you going to do now?"
"I don't know." But I did, I just didn't want to tell her. I'm going to try and find Nathan.
"Well I guess this is goodbye."
"Bye."
"I'm going to miss you so much Autumn."
"I will miss you too, Liz." I hug her and then walk to the office.
"How can I help you Autumn?"
"Dr. Woods said I can leave today."
"Okay well then you're free to go."
"Okay. Thank you."
I walk out of the front entrance, cheerful and happy. Now I wonder where the nearest hotel is. I look around to see what's around, oh, there is a Super 8 just a little further down the street. I head towards the Super 8.
Once I arrive I go to the front desk, "Hello. How can I help you Ms...?"
"Autumn, Ms. Autumn and I would like to get a room for tonight."
"Alright well Ms. Autumn, just one?"
"Yes."
"Okay, that will be $65.00."
"Here you go."
"Here is your key. Enjoy your stay."
"Thank you."
I walk upstairs to room 219. The room isn't that bad, for just one night. I put my things on the bed and get my pajamas. "This is disgusting." The shower is filthy, I guess I have to do some cleaning before I can go to bed. After cleaning, I start to get ready to go to sleep. As I lay in the bed I think about Nathan.
"Tomorrow, I will start looking for you. I will find you no matter what it will cost." I fall asleep while thinking about Nathan and wishing I knew where he was, and hoping that he is thinking about me too.
I wake up at 6:00AM. The hotel phone is going off. I get up and go to answer it, but I freeze because I see a billboard outside that has a wanted photo on it and the wanted person is Chassen.
"Oh no. They lost him. He's going to kill me. I have to get out of this town."
I went downstairs to the lobby to see when checkout is, "Crap, it's not until 7:30AM." I head back upstairs to find something to do. Once I reach my room, I sit on the bed and I start to think about Nathan. How am I ever going to find him?
"Finally, it's 7:30AM, I can get out of here." I grab my back pack and walk out of the room. Once I get downstairs, I go to the front desk.
"Good morning Ms. Autumn."
"Good morning."
"Ready to checkout?"
"Yes I am." I put the room keys on the counter.
"Your ID please."
I give him my ID, he scans it and then I leave. It's a little cold outside, but it's November, so I guess it's not that unusual. I walk down the street just to see what's around. About 5 buildings away from the hotel there is a library.
"I can try and find information about Nathan."
So I go to the library and sit down at one of the computers. I google 'Nathan Drake' to see what comes up. I go through the list it gives me. "No. Not this one. Nope. There he is." I click on the link beneath the photo and read the website that shows up. It turns out that it's his Facebook page.
"He is 19, born on September 16th, 2002. He is single and lives in Nashville, Tennessee." I wonder if he still pays the piano and the trombone. "His address is 510 Win-Chester Drive."
Then I log off of the computer and walk outside. "Now where is the nearest bus that is going to Nashville, Tennessee. There it is just a little further down." I walk over to the bus stop and wait for the bus to arrive.
About 10 minutes later the bus arrives and I get on. It's a long way to Nashville, so I take out my journal and begin to write in it. Five hours later I am in Nashville. After I get off of the bus, I just stand there like an idiot. I don't know why, but I physically can't move anything. All of a sudden I hear someone say my name.
"Autumn! Autumn is the you?" I can't tell who it is. "It's me Nathan."
I turn around as fast as I can. "Nathan! Oh my gosh, it's been a while."
"Yes it has." I run up and hug him.
"I can't believe it's really you."
"What are you doing in Nashville?"
"To be honest, I was hoping to find you."
"Wow. You look so different."
"You too."
Actually he looks even more cute than before. Oh no, here I go again. I'm falling in love with him all over again.
"We should go get some lunch and catch up with each other."
"Yeah that sounds great."
He puts his arm around me as we walk to the nearest restaurant. "So how long are you in town for?"
"I don't know yet. It all depends."
"Oh. So how have you been?"
"Umm. Actually, not good at all."
"Why is that?"
"Well I have just been through a lot lately."
"Oh, do you want to talk about it?"
"No, not really." We go sit down at a table and look in the beverages.
"Do you..."
"Hi, my name is Alicia and I will be serving you today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"I'd like a Diet Coke."
"What about you?"
"A Diet Coke as well please."
"Okay I will be right back with those."
"What were you going to say?"
"Oh, never mind that."
"Okay."  I couldn't help but gaze into his dreamy eyes and wonder what he was going to say earlier.
"Do you have a place to stay?"
"No."
"Well then you can stay with me."
"Oh, thank you Nathan."
"It's no problem, anything I can do to help out a close friend."
"Awww."
"Here are your diet cokes, are you guys ready to order something to eat?"
I look at Nathan to signal him that I haven't decided yet.
"I will get the ham sandwich."
"Okay, and for you Miss?"
"I will have the sam."
"Okay. I will be out with those in a few."
"Anyway, how did you know it was me at the bus stop?"
"I don't know, I guess I just had a feeling it was you."
I could see what he was about to say, but he decided not to.
"Do you have a thicker jacket?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Well after lunch how about we head back to my place, I can give you one of my sweatshirts and then we can go get you some clothes and shoes?"
"Okay."
"Alright, I have two ham sandwiches. Here you go Miss, and here you go Sir."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Enjoy!" We finish eating and he pays for the meal.
"Okay. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Okay." We get up and leave. Once we are outside he puts his arm around me, again, to keep me warm. "So is there anyone 'special' in your life?"
"No, not exactly."
"Oh, what does 'not exactly' mean?"
"It means that this guy is special to me, but I don't know if I'm special to him."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Yep." We finally reach his house.
"Alright we are here."
"Wow. You live in a big house."
"Yeah. It's big but it can get lonely, living here all by myself."
"Oh. So what about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mea is there anyone 'special' in your life?"
"No, not exactly."
""What does 'not exactly' mean?"
"Well I really like this girl, and I have liked her for a long time. But..."
"But what?"
"But I don't think she likes me like that."
"Oh." We go inside his house and I am amazed. "Wow. It's beautiful."
"Come this way, so you can put your stuff in your room and then we can go out and get some stuff for you."
"Okay."
He leads the way up the huge spiraling staircase. "So who is this guy that you like?"
"Well he's..."
"He's...?"
"..."
"I'm listening."
Do I want to tell him that the guy I like is actually him? How will he respond?"
"Still listening."
"..."
"Would it help if I went first or if we say it at the same time?"
"Maybe if we say it at the same time it will be easier."
"Okay on the count of 3."
"1...2...3..., it's you."
Everything goes dead silent. Then I say, "Wait so you actually like me?"
"Yes I do."
"How long?"
"Let's just say a really long time."
"Okay."
"Well here is your room."
"Thank you, Nathan."
"Anytime. I am going to go get that sweatshirt for you. If you need me I will be right across the hall."
"Okay." He walks away as I put my stuff on the bed.
"Okay, here is the sweatshirt. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah." We leave the room and go back down the stairs. Out of the corner of my eye I see a piano. "Do you still play?"
"Play what?"
"The piano."
"Oh. Yes I do. I can play your favorite for you later if you want."
"I would love that."
"Your favorite one is still the Fur Elise, right?"
"Yes, but how did you know?"
"I listen."
"Well, that's good to know."
"Okay let's go."
"Okay."
We walk outside, he locks the door and then we walk down the street. "So where do you want to go?"
"I have no idea."
"Okay, well lets go to the mall and see what we can find there."
"Sounds great.
So we continued to walk to the mall hand and hand. This is the moment I have been waiting for. He is the one I have been dreaming of, ever since I was a little girl. He is the answer to my prayers. And now he is mine.