The Whispers and The Wolf

Autumn Bruan had always sensed her uniqueness, a distinctiveness that set her apart from everyone in her small town. Throughout her childhood, she'd been treated with an air of peculiarity by others. Oddly enough, she embraced it, considering it more of a strength than a setback. “Character Building” she would later call it. From an early age, she learned to ride the waves: keeping her vibes high and her head in the clouds. Or rather, in a book… ‎ ‎ Her passion for reading bordered on obsession. With each word, she was transported to realms beyond imagination, tucked away within the pages of her beloved fantasy novels. Autumn reveled in the stunning scenery, twisting plots and electric chemistry between characters. Yet, deep down, she yearned for something more. She longed to live the life of one of those fictional and fantastical characters, to break free from the confines of her humble Scottish existence and embark on a grand adventure—one filled with dragon lords, faeries, and seductive vampires. ‎ ‎ She wasn’t sure if it was because of the escapes into fantasy that she first encountered "The Whispers," as she dubbed them—or if she was simply mad. The Whispers first manifested when she was just four years old, a disconcerting presence that left her feeling haunted and misunderstood by those around her. ‎ ‎ To her family, the whispers were nothing more than a manifestation of her overactive imagination, dismissed as nonsense or blamed on the books that consumed her. But Autumn remained unfazed. The Whispers held significance, guiding her with cryptic warnings and subtle nudges towards better choices. To her, they were confirmation that she was meant for more. That there was truth held in the pages of those books. They made her feel special. ‎ ‎ “Get outside and play, that will take your mind off this nonsense” Her mother would scold her. ‎ ‎ “It’s those bloody books, they’re boiling her brain” Her father would mutter. ‎ ‎ “You’re a wee freak!” Her sister would screech. ‎ ‎ Their origins, however, remained a mystery, whether born from her fascination with the fantastical or drawn to her by some unseen force. As she matured, so too did the Whispers, evolving from murmurs to messages, offering insights into relationships and decisions that defied rational explanation. ‎ ‎ Despite their influence, Autumn learned to keep the Whispers to herself, shielding them from the scrutiny of others and forging her path with a blend of intuition and determination. Through academic success and personal endeavors, she carved out a path of her own, fueled by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to escape the confines of her judgmental upbringing. ‎ ‎ Graduating with honors at 22, and gaining a Masters at 24 and a PHD at 28, it was time for the next chapter. Autumn believed she was destined for a life of predictability and routine, despite her yearning for more. But maybe, just maybe The Whispers were going to show her the path to the life she was so desperate to live.