Broken pieces

The begining

It was fall, around Halloween times. The crisp leaves crackled under the feet of small children filled with splendor and energy. The sky was a mute shade of grayish-blue and with gloomy skies. The wind blow through the trees fingers and stirred up the leaves with a whirl. The fresh air had an earthy smell that was soothing to those who had returned home from a long day's work.
It was a wonder to be able to live in Maryland. Some of the best schools, having a community of unique people from almost every country in the world, having all four of the seasons, which a twist of bizarre weather (that was out of place for the season, but adding more excitement). It was also beautiful, the way people treated each other there. Best of all, having crab seasoned with old bay with a cold can of natty boh was a delight for the true Marylander.
Her feet crackled the leaves as she walked home from school on the side walk. A truck had slowed down near to her but, speed up once next to her. She couldn't see well into the truck, but it was truly frightening enough to make her speed up her pace to get to her house. 

*What the hell was up with that?* She thought to herself. Autumn just walked faster and tried  to forget about it. She was nearly to her house, just about 10 more minutes away and if she walked fast enough that could be cut to 5 minutes. 

screechhhhhhhhh

The truck halted next to her this time, and the windows rolled down slowly. A man with a huge smile was revealed behind the trucks window. Autumn didn't want to look like a crazy person by running away immediately so, instead she just backed away.

He was an older man, had to be in his twenties. His hair was long black corkscrews that were long, untamed, vines,shrubs around his face; all to be topped with a camouflaged hat with the bill turned in on it's sides . His eyes were piercing emeralds that somehow gave him an intrinsic. Truly memorizing. His smile was a bit croaked but, it was all the more welcoming. 

Autumn saw his eyes trace her long violet dreads that reached her hips, and her over-sized hoodie and lazy skinny jeans she had on with her vans. He took great care in examining every detail that was her. 

"Hello" He had a thick Maryland accent, almost like he was from Virginia. "You know which way Elmore high is? I'm suppose to be a student teacher there..I'd reckon that's where you go to school?"

" You're headed the wrong way. Turn around and take the left at the traffic light. You can't miss it" She replied, now calm.

"Oh, apparently I did just came from there. Is that where you go to school?"

"That's your problem if you're that blind and didn't see it and it's none of your business"

"Sorry miss, I'd just thought it would be nice if you ended up being one of my students, I'm Monroe Davis and you are?" He smiled. Autumn started to walk off.

"Thanks again" He shouted out the window at her, before making a U-turn and heading off down the road.

~

Night time had came, Autumn headed out the house. She made her way to a Chinese restaurant, she walked on the bleak pathways for 20 minutes before getting to the small Chinese restaurant. She walked around the back where a ladder lead to the second story which was a living space, she rushed up the ladder and jumped through the window. A guy who was a bit older than Autumn sat on a bed in the dark room all alone. His black hair reached his shoulders, he wore a  black wife-beater and boxers. A cigarette hung out of his as he blared rock music from his phone.

"Hey Micheal" She said flopping on the bed.

"Hey Autumn, you were almost late this time" He didn't turn to acknowledge her, he just skipped through songs on his phone, til he found on he liked and laid the phone on the night stand next to the bed

"I didn't know I was on a schedule." She took off her jeans and hoodie, revealing her legs and a tee-shirt.

"You're usually here before the sun comes down." He put out his cigarette and laid down besides her. "You ok?" He asked.

"I'm fine. My uncle was home when I came back from school, I thought he would be at work before I got home"

Micheal's heart fell to his stomach, he pulled her close and embraced her. Her arms slowly wrapped around with hesitation.

"I'll fucking kill him" He whispered squeezing her.

"As soon as I got home, he just whaled on me, keep punching me in my stomach for not being home at nights then... made me get on my knees." She said quietly through tears "I just ran to my room after. After a couple of hours, passed and he tried to knock down my down, so I left out the window and here I am"

"We can move away together Autumn, to an apartment, the money we make together will be more then enough. When ever we get hungry, my folks will let us eat downstairs for free"

"He'll call the cops on the both of us" She reminded Micheal.

"Not if I cut off his member" He said, catty.

A voice in the other room called out to Micheal. He replied in rapid Chinese.

"One second" he told Autumn, before getting up and leaving the room.

A few minutes later when he returned, Autumn was asleep in a pond of her own tears, with crying stains streaming down her cheek onto the bed, she shook violently. He gently climbed into bed next to her and held her, pondering and imaging protecting her and having her. He imagined being a greater man that  would be worthy enough to have her and take care of her. Just like Autumn, tears silently ran down his cheeks onto the bed, he kissed her cheek before falling asleep too.