Echoes of Fall's Farewell

Chapter 1: When Autumn Begins

CONTENT WARNING: DISTRESSING AND TRIGGERING THEMES (PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ)

This novel contains scenes that may be distressing or triggering, including instances of child exploitation. The author has approached these subjects with sensitivity and care, aiming to depict the harsh realities of certain situations. Reader discretion is advised.

It is recommended that individuals who may be sensitive to such content exercise caution and consider their emotional well-being before proceeding. The author acknowledges the gravity of the topics explored in this work and encourages readers to reach out to appropriate support services if needed.

The inclusion of these scenes does not seek to endorse or trivialize the depicted behaviors. Instead, it serves as a narrative element crucial for the story's development and to raise awareness about the unfortunate realities it touches upon. It is emphasized that these realities, though depicted, should not be normalized.

Please be aware that this book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Chapter 1

When Autumn Begins

"That's how things are these days, you know? It seems like everything has a price, even our freedom to choose. The good opportunities are locked behind a paywall," Aerin said, tending to the bruises on my arm with care. "Ugh, I feel terrible for you. Why do you put up with this? Seriously! Astrid practically begs you to leave. You should go! She's treating you like a punching bag here."

I let out a weary sigh. "Lower your voice, okay? What if someone hears us?"

"Who cares! Is your mom going to come after me too? Well, I say bring it on! Let her meet my mom. She's a red belter!" Aerin's voice rose even higher as she packed up the medical kit. I inspected my arm, now showing shades of purple and green. "Oh, by the way, I talked to my mom. She's cool with you staying at our place this summer. What do you say? Rhett and I can swing by and pick you up."

"I can't just leave my mom behind." I grabbed the well-worn red sweatshirt I'd been wearing for the past day and wrapped it around myself.

"She doesn't seem to care! You hardly even see each other because she's always at the gambling den. And when you do meet, it's just more pain! Plus think about it... If you stay with us, it's not just about shelter. You'll be closer to Rhett too! Yay!" She exclaimed, playfully poking my side. "I'll take care of your emotional well-being from now on."

I winced. "You're a handful. If my dad up in heaven gets upset, can you explain things to him on my behalf?" Not to mention, my mother was also unwell.

"I get that you promised to keep looking after Astrid no matter what, but don't you see? Uncle Schuyler only made you swear because your mom acts all sweet around him! I wonder if he'd sing the same tune if he knew about Astrid's behavior. Ha! I bet Uncle Schuyler would facepalm up there!"

"Ae!" I gave her a stern look.

"Why? I'm just telling it like it is, okay? Your mom is all nice just so Uncle Schuyler won't take you away. Because, you know, if your dad takes you, why would he send any support here? Astrid would be in trouble. She won't even have cash for her beloved tong-its."

I exhaled and propped my legs up on the bed. The situation with my mother was something Aerin thought she grasped, but she really didn't. Maybe because people only saw the physical wounds on my body, not the emotional storm my mother weathered. If they knew what she'd been through... Dealing with my mom's post-traumatic stress wasn't simple. Her psychiatrist said I needed to have a broad understanding of her struggles. So, even if I wanted to distance myself, I couldn't just leave her hanging.

"Oh well, Rhett said Kuya Jethro's league starts on Sunday. Don't tell me you're not going?"

I pouted and stared at my toes. "Maybe my mom won't let me."

"Come on!" she groaned. "You didn't even show up when we invited you to play hopscotch the other day!" She said with frustration, sitting down on the bed. "Just come, okay? Kuya Jeth needs all the cheering. That arrogant Merrick will be there too."

"Of course, I want to watch, but... it's just that my mom... might not allow it."

"Suit yourself!" She stood up with a huff, grabbing the medical kit. "I'm out. If anything hurts, just call Rhett. I'm off to Trixie's place to make pompoms."

I simply nodded. They appeared genuinely enthusiastic about supporting Jeth on Sunday. I pouted. I wanted to join in too. Merrick would be there, after all. I hoped to witness him feeling as embarrassed as he and Ate Savy had made Kuya Jethro.

I felt drained.

I suppose my childhood could have been more wonderful if life hadn't been extraordinarily unkind to me. When I thought about my friends — Trixie, Majesty, and Aerin — even though their families weren't affluent either, they seemed luckier, I had to admit. We may have all resided on the same bleak side of the world, but life hadn't been as brutal to them as it had to me.

"Freesia!"

I jumped at the sound of my mother's furious voice.

"Hurry up! My guest will be here any minute, and here you are, just lazing around like you always do! You're so slow, I swear!" My mother seethed, leaning against the doorframe.

"Sorry..." I replied with a nod, as was my usual response.

"Get a move on!"

I had grown used to this kind of scene. I remembered feeling grateful that she only yelled at me. In worse moments, she'd grab my hair, toss her cigarette at me, or slam my head against the wall.

I bit my lip and picked up the two buckets from the muddy floor of the cramped bathing area. In times like these, I couldn't find it in me to cry. I wasn't sure if I had run out of tears or if I had simply grown numb to Mama's treatment.

"Madame Lucia raised the water fee. It's now 20 pesos per bucket," I informed her.

"So what?"

She exhaled smoke from her mouth and leaned her arm on the door frame, her eyes scrutinizing me from head to toe. I clenched my lips and cautiously extended my hand to her.

"What am I supposed to do with that? Set it on fire?" She sneered.

"I-I was hoping to ask for some money... for the water refilling," I stammered.

"Oh, come on! You i***t!" I flinched as she threw her still-burning cigarette at my leg. "Do you think I have money? You think I've got 20 pesos? You're a moron! Our water got cut off because we couldn't pay! We're broke!"

"B-But we're already drowning in debt — ouch!" I dropped the two buckets as Mama grabbed my ear. "Mama! It hurts! Ouch! Mama!"

"You dare to make excuses, huh? And you talk back to me!" she hissed.

"Mama! Please stop!" I pleaded.

She dragged me out of the bathroom by my ear. "When I say we're broke, we're broke! I won't give you anything, so don't even think about asking for a cent! You've got the nerve to make excuses? If you want money, go join your useless father in the grave and ask him for it! i***t!" she yelled, shoving me away.

I slumped onto the cold floor, closing my eyes. Before I could compose myself, I instinctively raised both arms to catch the large buckets she threw my way.

"There! Go to Lucia and get water! Tell her we're broke, so she needs to stop being greedy!" she added. She kicked my legs one last time before turning away and retreating to her room. "Damn this life!"

Silent tears streamed down my face as I summoned the strength to rise from the ground. Every movement was a painful reminder of my mother's cruelty. I winced as I felt the pain in my legs and hips; the wounds Aerin had treated were far from healed, and new ones had joined the old. It was why I couldn't entirely blame her, Rhett, and his older brother Kuya Jethro. They had their reasons for resenting Mama. When she hurt me, they were the ones I sought refuge in.

Holding the two empty buckets, I made my way out of the house, limping from the pain in my legs and hips. It had become my nightly ritual to venture out and fetch water from the source near Madame Lucia's convenience store. Mama would take her baths at ten, right before her various male visitors arrived, each with a different face every night.

"Another debt?" Madame Lucia exclaimed. "Lord! Tell your Mama she's got a mile-long list of debts already! She hasn't even paid for the alcohol and cigarettes she took from my store. And now she wants to borrow again?" She peered at the buckets I carried. "What's this? Two buckets? Good grief! That's quite a load! And you've got no means to pay for it!"

I lowered my head. "I apologize, Madame Lucia. Mama is currently facing financial difficulties, which is why she hasn't been able to settle her debts - "

"That's an old excuse! I've heard it all before, you know? Hasn't your Mama given you a new script to recite?"

I kept my head down. That was one of the harshest aspects of being poor. Instead of money, you paid with your pride. And sometimes, even your pride was for sale.

"Oh, come on, Madame Lucia," someone spoke from behind me. Rhett took one of the buckets from my hands and draped his arm around my shoulders. "It's late at night, and you're raising such a ruckus. We wouldn't want Mommy to hear you, would we? Let's not make things more complicated."

"It's Freesia again! Not a single day goes by without her showing up to borrow something."

Rhett raised a thick eyebrow at me, and I felt my cheeks flush with warmth. "How much does she owe?"

"Here. Two buckets of water. One's 20 pesos, so it's forty."

Rhett set the bucket down and released his arm from my shoulders. Swiftly, he reached into the pocket of his khaki pants and pulled out his wallet. I shook my head fervently and gripped his arm.

"Rhett..."

He simply gave me a warm smile and handed the orange bills to Madame Lucia. "Here you go..."

Madame squinted at me, slapped the money against her palm, and raised an eyebrow. "Tell your mother I'm not withholding anything from her. Borrowing isn't the issue; it's the fact that nearly all your essentials come from my store. It'd be better if you could pay. But your mother doesn't even have a job."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll try to find some part-time work this summer. I'll slowly pay off our debts."

"Alright then. Your mother is probably looking for you. Fill those buckets up at the water station."

I nodded and let Rhett take the two empty buckets from my hands.

That was my daily routine. Aerin would come every morning with her medical kit, Mama would hurt me and berate me at some point during the day, and she'd send me to Madame Lucia to fetch water without giving me a single cent. The next day would be the same. It had become part of Aerin's daily ritual to come to the house and treat my wounds and bruises.

"What took you forever?" Mama asked gumpily as I arrived.

"Free..." Rhett gave me a meaningful look before setting down the bucket. He also signaled to the man he had instructed to lower the other bucket before dismissing him. "I'm leaving. Are you sure you'll be okay here?"

I nodded and forced a smile. "Thanks."

"I'll text Aerin to treat you again tomorrow. Rest up."

As Rhett left, my chest began to tighten with anxiety. Mama took a drag from her cigarette before giving me a scrutinizing glance.

"I'm sorry if I came home late. I had a hard time borrowing from Madame Lucia."

She rolled her eyes at me before turning away. "Hurry up. The visitor is already here, go take a bath."

"Pardon?"

She clenched her jaw and turned her head towards me. "Are you deaf? I said the visitor is already here! Go take a bath!"

"B-But... I already took a bath earlier, at three o'clock."

She seethed. "You won't listen..."

"Y-Yes, yes! I will take a bath!"

Despite the pain in my body, I struggled to lift the heavy bucket and took it to the bathing area.

It wasn't my usual routine to bathe at night. It was only Mama who did that. I didn't understand why she insisted on using the precious water for me.

If you think my Mama was rude, well, she really was. I couldn't deny that. But as much as possible, I tried my hardest to understand her. She's ill. That's what I repeatedly whispered to myself when I felt hurt.

After I stepped out of the bathing area, the lights in the living room and kitchen were already off. Our house wasn't large, just a regular one in the neighborhood. Dad had gotten it for us when he was around. It had two floors, but it wasn't too spacious. The living room and kitchen were connected, with a narrow staircase in the middle leading to the second floor.

Darkness enveloped me as I pushed open the door to my room. I entered and closed it behind me before turning on the lights. We weren't struggling too much with money. We could still manage to pay the electricity bill, but there were times when we had to borrow from Rhett. It was a bit embarrassing, but as I mentioned, if you didn't have money, you needed to have an infinite reserve of dignity to use as payment.

My chest got tight when I saw the door to the little balcony wide open. The yellow curtain on the door fluttered in the wind. I unwrapped the towel from my hair and walked to the balcony. I felt really uneasy as my heart raced. The lights suddenly went out again, and before I could turn around, someone's hand covered my mouth. I jumped in shock, my eyes wide in fear.

"Shh..." The warm breath on the back of my neck gave me shivers. "We're just gonna play..."

My feet turned icy cold right away.