Statue

Statue

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Chapter 1- Broken

The leaves are just starting to change their color. I've gotten used to the yells and hollers down the hall. I don’t think I have ever been alive when they were happy. They must’ve been happy, a long time ago. My parents fight every night, barely speaking during the day. But, this time, it’s much worse. The argument is about me.

“If it weren't for that stupid kid, we would’ve been happy!” my father barks.

“My mother wouldn’t let me get rid of it!” mom hollers.

“Well, your mother just had to die before the birth! She said she would keep it!”

“She couldn’t take care of it anyway,” my mother sighs.

“Clearly, she couldn’t raise you to be more mature!”

“At least I had a family!” she continues “No wonder they left you!”It goes on. I block my ears and run into the kitchen. At least there, the words were muffled by walls. On the table, there lay piles of unpaid bills. And, they forgot to go grocery shopping. Then I remember, a shiver runs down my back. School starts tomorrow. I can no longer stay in my room, isolated in the summer. I will have to face people, who think I’m a freak, not to mention Shawn Anderson, who teases me everyday, and punches me every week. My parents never notice. Never.

I walk up the stairs of the school with my head down. There’s a new bruise on my shoulder from Anderson. I know because I can feel it throbbing. In class, they take attendance.

“Derek Peterson!” the teacher calls.

“Here,” I whimper.

“Make sure you say it loud and clear! Okay Suzie…” his voice trails off in my head. I stare out the window. What if I ran away? Surely the police would look for me, but my parents would rejoice. They want to get rid of me; I know they want to. It would be easy to fake being sad. Like oh no! Our poor baby! He will be missed. That easy for them. But where would I possibly go? I ponder these thoughts through the sluggish morning and then, lunch begins. As usual, I sit alone. Friendsaren’t a part of my vocabulary. But then someone comes and sits at the table. A girl with bright orange, red hair. Like the color of autumn leaves.

“Hey, is this seat taken? I’m new and there are no other seats. This place is packed!” she chattered.

“Uhh, sure,” I answered. She took a seat across from me and started eating her sandwich. I look at her. She’s pretty, but she’s also a person. I’m nervous. But I hate being so ackward. Maybe it’s time to try.

“So,” I tried to make conversation. Something I hadn’t done in a while. I don’t know, I just kinda wanted to be friends. Loneliness isn’t nice.

“Where did you live before?”

“Umm, well, in another town.” She didn’t specify which town, but it didn’t matter.

“Oh, okay.” After that, the conversation ended. I kept looking at her hands. They were a bit grayish. Was she sick? Maybe. I usually would shut my mouth, but she seemed easy enough to talk to.

“Your hands are a bit gray.” I instantly regretted saying it. She blushed and answered,

“Yeah.. that’s nothing,” she responded putting her head down. The bell rang, and I got up and walked away quickly. She probably hates me now.

“Mother, are you okay?” I whispered.

“Go away!” she moaned “Just go.”

“Where’s dad?”

“He’s gone,” she wheezed “He’s gone! Cause of you! I don’t want to look at you ever again!” she roared. And that broke me. I’m an unwanted, scrawny, bug. Who shouldn’t have been born. Who needs a new home.

I decide to go that night. No use staying here. There isn’t much to pack and I want to write a letter, but don’t know what to say. All I say is: I know I ruined your life, but I didn’t choose to be born.. You never listened, so you won’t care. So, bye forever.

-Derek

The door shuts, and the late summer wind blows in my face as I run; I’m headed to the one place I feel comfortable. The lake. Not the beach, but the oak and willow tree by the other side. When I get there, moonlight ripples in the water. A crescent moon dominates the dark sky. I see my reflection in the water. A thin, pale, scrawny, tall, shaggy dark haired guy. Who never thought he had the guts to run away. He just did. I smile.

“What are you doing here?” The voice scares me. I turn to see the orange, red haired girl from lunch behind me.

“Uhh, just, nothing,” I stagger.

“Are you supposed to be out here?” she asks impatiently.

“No. Well yes. It just wouldn’t matter...But they wouldn’t… care,” I break down. The tears come. I try to fight it but snotty words pour from my mouth.

“They didn’t want me… and neglected me. I, just couldn’t. They hated me. I don’t know wha-what to-to do. I nee-need h-help.” I cry. The tears and moans come from my mouth. For two minutes, she just stares, bewildered by how suddenly I broke. Then, towards the end of my weeps, I mutter,

“Sorry. I’m sorry.” At that she wraps her arms around me and squeezes me.

“Don’t you dare apologize. Don’t,” she orders.

We then sat there, watching the water ripple from a fish or just the wind. No words were spoken until about an hour.

“Are you going to go to the police?” she asked. I thought about it. I feel like a broken, unworthy person of a family. I feel like I would just break up the family, it seemed like that would happen.

“They could find you a family,” she added.

“No, they would bring me back to my mother,” I sighed.

“Not if you told them you were neglected.”

“I just, don’t think I could take it. Telling them. They would ask so many questions, and I’m afraid one of my parents would track me down and kill me or something,” I sighed, then breathed “I’m just-not ready. You know?” She nodded.

“What are you going to do?”

“Probably go to another town. I want to get away from here,” I explained. She seemed to ponder something.

“You could stay with me, you know, until you’re ready,” she offered.

“Your parents would let me?” I questioned. Her parents would probably think she was crazy and should be put in a mental hospital. At least, that’s what my parents would've done.

“Not exactly,” she semi-smiled. She lead me to a little clearing by the bank of the lake, surrounded by trees. It looked like a long forgotten camp site. A little lean to sat up against a maple tree. An old, dirty backpack was next to it, filled with some clothes, a jump rope, a steak knife, and binoculars.

“You live here?” I reported.

“Yeah. You can stay here for a little while. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Derek. Yours?”

“Autumn.”

Chapter 2- Bliss

We fell tired, so we lied down in the lean to and slept. Early morning crept up the horizon. Cool air seeped into my skin. I got up and put my only sweatshirt on. I was hungry, and then started to wonder, How was I gonna get food? Being homeless meant I would have to eat from a garbage can. I hadn’t thought about it as much as I should’ve.

“Morning,” Autumn chirped.

“Morning,” I replied. She put her sweater on too, and reached in her bag.

“I got five bucks that I found on the beach, I was going to save it, but I got a guest, so let's use it.

“No, don’t waste it on me, I’m fine.”

“Nah, we’ll eat good, then go steal some fruit,” she lectured.

“Steal some fruit,” I repeat “We’re going to steal?”

“Well, what did you think was going to happen?” she teased “That I eat out of a trash can?” Since everyone was at school or work, the apple orchard was empty. We snuck around to the edge of the fence, away from the booth. I had told her to keep the five bucks for emergency.

“Make sure you get good ones,” Autumn commanded. We picked until the bags couldn’t hold anymore, then we escaped into the forest, without being noticed. I feel guilty, but we have food. After, she told me to follow her into town, and to put my hood up so people don’t ask why we aren’t at school. I do as I’m told and follow her to an alley with trash and recycling.

“Let’s stock up on water bottles, we’ll wash em’ in the gas station downtown.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Fill some with soap as well, then we can wash in the lake.” I do as I’m told. We find around twenty plastic water bottles, but can only hold ten. Then, we wash them in the gas station. But, as I come out of the restroom, someone catches my eye. I stand there, staring. When Autumn comes out, she looks at me.

“Earth to Derek. Hello? You in there?”

“That’s my father,” I whisper. I don’t want him to see me, then he might do something crazy. My parents would hit me every so often, but it was always hard.

“Come, we’ll sneak behind the shelves,” she says as she grabs my arm. We then walk fast, and when I look back, I realize he never saw us. I sigh in relief. We go back.

“Here, I’ll be bathing behind that tree. Try to relax.” Autumn leaves and I look upon the lake. What is happening to me? My parents and past haunt me. I needed to get away, but I feel like they're still there. Twenty minutes later, about, I had finished my apple and Autumn came back and started eating her apple too. She likes green ones. We are watching the sunset.

“The air is cooling,” she states “I wish it wouldn’t.”

“Yeah. I wish it would stay summer forever.”

“I have to warn you, I won’t be here forever. You can stay with me till’ November, but then I go away.” That came quick. It occurred to me I don’t know her. Her past is vague, and she seems to not to want to share it.

“Why?” I question. She shakes her head.

“I cannot tell you that. All I can tell you is you must plan to leave, because I don't want to leave you out in the cold,” she explained.

“Okay.” We sit, then I look at her. She’s pretty, especially in the rich light of dusk. I think of grabbing her hand, but she'll think I’m gross or inappropriate. But maybe I should. Why not? So, I grab her hand, and she looks at me. I can tell I blush and I feel embarrassed. She smiles and squeezes my hand, and looks back at the sunset. I grin and look back at the last light of day. She then rests her head on my shoulder and we watch the stars.

I get up early the next morning, and bathe in the lake. I dress and come back to the main base. That’s what we’re calling it. Autumn is already up, and hands me my bag.

“Wanna go for a walk around the lake?” The lake is big, and It’ll take up a good portion of the day. I agree. We talk about life, and dreams, and take breaks to refill water bottles.

That’s life until October. We go to the orchard, play around the lake, on the occasional warm day, we swim. Life was simple, but it’s sometimes a struggle to find food. One day, at home base, we eat a can of beans and Autumn comes and talks to me.

“You okay?” I ask. She seems sad. She looks at me.

“My hands are starting to turn very pale, but it’s normal. So don’t freak out.” I look at her hands. They almost seem sickly.

“Are you really okay? It seems bad.” I care about her, and if she’s sick, I’d like to know.

“It’s okay, I’m fine. But you’re going to have to start to think about finding a new place to live. I’ll be gone soon,” she warns. Tears are being held back, and she seems scared. I bring her into a hug and I am not positive she is okay.

We run errands and her hands get whiter. The other day, I swore her hands were cool to the touch. The orchards are now empty, and we are finding it harder to find food. I’m growing thinner, and am increasingly worried about Autumn. She seems sadder these days.

In early November, we hold each other at night to keep warm. She is soft, and quiet. I feel lucky to have known her. One night, she comes over to me.

“You need to find a new home, I wish I didn’t have to go… and if I could control it… it’s… just…” Tears fill her eyes, and I tug her closer and we are about to kiss, when she puts her hand on my mouth.

“If you kiss me, your life will be ruined. You deserve a life.” She breaks into tears and I hug her. Everything seemed too sad, she wasn’t okay.

Chapter 3- Sadness Cuts Deep

One day, I wake to being alone. Her bag and belongings are gone. Snow falls on the ground, and footprints lead away from the main base. She ran! She told me she would be going, but I thought she would say goodbye. Wherever she’s going, I want to make sure she’s okay before she goes. I shiver as I follow the tracks. Hopefully the snow hasn’t covered them up. I run for about ten minutes when, I reach a point in the forest, where the tracks end. And where the tracks end, is where Autumn sits before me, made of ice.

Tears roll down her face, and she sits criss-cross. I touch her cheek, her eyes are open. We had gone through the forest only yesterday. How could have an ice sculpture got here? A piece of paper is in its fist. I take it and read the paper. My mouth drops. Dear Derek, you found me. I’m sorry you had to find me this way, but I can’t control it. I hope you had gone to the police, and found a real home.. I hope you are alright. I miss you, but I’ll be back in autumn. Welcome to the pun that is my name. I am not suffering, and I can see and hear. Go find a home. Live life. I’ll never forget you. usually I’m alone , but having friends isn’t too bad either.

With all my love: Autumn

Tears fill my eyes, and I cry. I hug the statue. Come back Autumn. Come back.

When I go to the police, even though I fight, they bring me back to my mom. I am, again, neglected.

I cry every night. Autumn all alone, it breaks me. I want her. To show her that she is worth pain. Because she showed me.

After winter, I go see her, she’s glass. She changed. I wish I was there for her.

I make a few friends, and do as I’m told. Time keeps going, as do I, waiting for autumn to come. And to see Autumn.

Chapter 4- Home

The first leaves have changed. Through the hits, and yells, and depressing days, I’v waited. That Saturday, I run to the lake. I scramble through the wood to find a stone statue. She’s changed again. I have come to see her a few times before. I hope she comes back to life today. Please be today. The stone-grayness starts to fade, and become more human-skin like. Her fingers move a little. Her eyes blink. Then, her head lifts up, and says

“Derek?” she says.I smile and say

“Hi Autumn. I found the note.”

“I know, I saw you. Did you find a family?”

“No, they brought me to my mom,” I confided.

“I’m sorry, that’s bad.” she sighs “You should go.”

“Why?” Did I do something?

“I turn to a statue like that every season, and I can’t… I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“Autumn, you’re worth it,” I assured. She smiles.

“How can I send you off to a better life when you’re too sweet?” she jokes.

“If I go, are you going to stay alone?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to form bonds, that hurts people,” she admits.

“I don’t mind being hurt,” I responded. She stares at me, I stare back.

“Let’s walk,” she declares. We walk around the lake. She tries to convince me to go, for my own good. I refuse to leave her, to let her live alone. She admits how she doesn’t want to be alone, but it’s needed. When we have walked around the whole lake, we go back to home base. We re-build her lean to. She’s brilliant, she uses tree sap to stick leaves on the branches.

After, we sit at the lake’s edge. Like old times. Her pale skin isn’t sickly pale, like when we last sat here. She explains how she doesn’t age. She is frozen in time. She explains how she can’t remember anything from when she was human. If she was ever human. My arm is around her shoulders, and her head is resting on my shoulder.

“Once, I kissed a cat, and it turned into a statue. After it turned back, it ran.” I look at her. She laughs.

“I know it’s weird!” she giggles.

“Yeah, that’s pretty weird,” I smiled. We watched the sunset, and I had never felt relief like this. I look at her, and kiss her cheek. She stares back.

“I don’t care if I turn into a statue.” I lean down and kiss her. We kiss for a long time. In the last light of day. She warms my soul, and I know being stone, ice or glass with someone by your side, is better than living, with nobody to live with. I feel home.

Epilogue

We sit together, against a tree deep in the woods. My skin is glued shut, but I know she is there. We look upon the trees, watching, waiting for autumn to fall upon the world again. She may only be sixteen, and I only seventeen, but life seems complete, at least for now.