Weakness // Ashton Irwin

//Three//

Autumn slipped on her coat, even though it was warm enough to go swimming outside. She picked up her bag off of the corner shelf and left.

She walked silently, enjoying the sun on her face. The coat did make it a little snug but she kept it on regardless. She neared the cliff, and she knew who was there waiting for her.

She slowed down her pace, not very anxious to see him.

In time, she made it to the cliff. Surprisingly, she did not see Ashton. Instead of a young man, a middle aged woman was standing on the cliff, looking down at the water so many feet beneath it. The warm wind blew the woman's long blonde locks away from her face. Autumn got a quick glimpse of her face. She looked saddened.

In sudden realization, Autumn made her presence known,"I-I see that you're sad. What's wrong?" She asks, trying to be gentle.

Autumn knew very well that this woman could jump off the cliff at any moment, but she did not know if that was the woman's true intention.

The woman drew back at the sound of Autumn's voice. With an exasperated sigh the woman speaks,"I'm not going to jump, if that's what you think." She lets out a dry, forced laugh.

Autumn's shoulders loosen in relief. "I'm just trying to make sure you're okay. You look upset." She explains, not telling the woman that she actually thought she was going to jump.

"Nothing. Just needed a break from things. I came here to clear my mind." She says, rubbing her temples.

Autumn nods,"Me too." She notices a small bouquet of flowers at the edge of the cliff but decides not to question her.

"You seem like a sweet girl. I have to get to work now, but thank you for your concern." She forces a smile. Autumn returns a small smile back. She notices a small bouquet of flowers that she must've left at the edge of the cliff.

The woman walks away back to her car that was parked nearby on the road. Then, Autumn remembered Ashton didn't have a car. She thought he must've walked to the cliff. She leaves her thoughts at that and pulls out her journal.

Date: 1/11/15

My mom got that job she was raving about yesterday afternoon. She seems happier, and I hope that she is. Maybe it will keep her from her drunken rages. She seems distracted with hope, and I pray that it will last.
I met someone at the cliff. Weird, huh? Maybe he comes here as often as I do, although I've never seen him before. Night owl?

Autumn closes her journal, deciding to finish at home. She stands up, stretching her legs. She looks out over the water and small town that she can see in the distance.

The wind picks up, but she doesn't mind. The wind feels good considering her coat had made her quite uncomfortable. She walks closer to the edge and looks down.

She shakes her head, and steps back still enjoying the view. She still enjoyed it after a little over a year. It was breathtaking and never boring to her. Her thoughts wonder back to the bouquet of dandelions at the edge.

She looks down at them. They were very close to falling off. The wind could blow them away at any moment. Autumn walks to the flowers, crouching down to pick them up. The winds blows the flowers further away, slipping away from her fingertips. She gasps as she reaches for them as far as she could, but she slips. She falls fortunately on the hard surface of the cliff, but the flowers fall below. She watches as they fall into the water below her.

Autumn sits up, angry at the wind. Her legs dangle off the cliff and she lets out an angry huff. In return, a louder huff was heard above her. Autumn quickly looks up.