Eyes of baby lettuce colour.

Spring was in her fiery hair.

Summer lived in her fresh greenhouse ripe complexion.

She was the end, yet the beginning. Just like autumn. 

Her mother, remembering Toni Morrison’s line, “There was a hint of spring in her sole green eyes, something summery in her complexion, and a rich autumn ripeness in her walk,” called her Autumn. 

Autumn was not your ordinary baby who naturally became a far from ordinary individual. 

How was she different? Well, as a baby she stared and stared. She was absorbing the world around her. As a little girl, she asked deep questions. “Why am I here? What is life’s purpose?”

As a school child she hung around with intellectuals. It was as though she were engineering their intelligence within herself. 

Was it any wonder that Autumn completed university like a photoflash!  And still had so many questions!

Her larger than life brain needed so much outlet and stimulation. Thus, she turned to writing books. Naturally, she was an instant success. Strangely enough, she chose to write children’s novels rather than academic books, arguing that only children had wide-eyed questioning souls. Her illustrator’s drawings were magical, profound, raising multiple questions. For all of her intelligence, she could not read the feelings of her illustrator. 

He asked her for a date. She accepted, thinking it was a work date.

His opening words were, “Autumn, your name is Latin for ‘of woods.’ Stop searching your soul for answers. Learn to enjoy life.”

The illustrator took her on a September walk in the forest. “Look at the leaves falling in a waterfall cascade of colours. They represent you. There are the golds of your flawless skin. The still green leaves of your emerald eyes. The on-fire leaves of your red hair. The purple of your enigmatic soul. Yes, your soul is puzzling! Take my hand, I will teach you how to enjoy life. Now RUN!”

They both ran giggling down a zigzagging path to tumble into a pile of zesty gem-coloured leaves.

“This is living!” cried Autumn, realising that she was in love.

  

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Allan Neil
Allan Neil(@allan-neil)
9 months ago

Great progression in this story Margarida. Young and not so young Autumn was a prodigy, a genius and probably very boring to anyone outside her immediate circle, but the illustrator, no genius, perhaps, but a master with pen and brush, knocked down the walls of her insularity and introduced her to L.I.F.E. Great reading, great writing!.

Sandra James
Sandra James(@sandra-james)
9 months ago

I really enjoyed reading the progressive phases of Autumn’s life and the wonderful conclusion, Margarida. So glad the illustrator could help her to live life and, perhaps, a message for us all… sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees and need to pause and live. Well done  ? 

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
9 months ago

Wow! As always, impressive writing. And I love this line: “Take my hand, I will teach you how to enjoy life. Now RUN!” It really stuck in my mind. And I hope that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow someone will cheer me up and teach me how to enjoy life. Stress-free life. Well done for a brilliant story, Margarida.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Margarida Brei
9 months ago

You’re always welcome, Margarida. Thanks.

Greene M Wills
Greene M Wills(@greene-m-wills)
9 months ago

I love your story where you show how opposites attract! They will run together and enrich each other…it reminds me so much of something that happened to me a long time ago but I am still holding his hand and running!

Linda Rock
Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
9 months ago

How true, Margarida, that too often we get so caught up in life that we never stop to appreciate life itself, or really live it! I love the emphasis on the word RUN in your story for that one word says it all. Your story takes me back to a time in my life when I did just that, finding love, just like the girl in your story. I love the idea… Read more »

Bella Minyo
Bella Minyo(@bella-minyo)
9 months ago

Margarida, your story is wonderfully fast-paced and never lost the context of Autumn’s life. I have a friend named Autumn and she is also a creative and intelligent individual. Your story definitely will keep me thinking, since I myself have difficulty letting go and enjoying life. A truly thought-provoking and enjoyable read.

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