1 1. Beauty of a Autumn Afternoon

It was a late Autumn afternoon in Seattle and the sun was starting to set and the clouds were starting to gather. The golden leaves that had fallen, covered the streets with the colors of the season. Like any city center, it bustled with noise, busy streets full of cars and crowded sidewalks full of people.

I stepped out of the high rise and I was immediately captivated by how the setting sun had cast a warm glow on to the city. I wanted to make a mental picture, storing it in my memories for the days when I won't be able to see it anymore.

My boss, Nicholas and I were just about to walk to the car, when it suddenly started to rain. I opened my satchel to take out the umbrella but I had to drop one shoulder strap, so that I could open it wide enough to search, exposing all the crap that I held within.

Nicholas just stood there in the rain, checking his phone. I took out my make-up bag, a cardigan, a scarf and headsets, finally unveiling the umbrella hidden at the bottom of the bag. I fumbled with the other items I had removed as I tried to free up my hand to reach the umbrella. Seeing that I was burdened, instead of taking over the items, he reached in and took the umbrella, opened it and said, "Let's go". Without even waiting for me, he started walking towards the car. I hugged all the items and just hurriedly followed him down towards the car. Turning my head back and checking every few steps to make sure I hadn't dropped anything. Nicholas reached the car, opened the passenger door for me but without waiting for me to settle into the seat, he slammed the door shut.

He got into the car and swung the wet umbrella over the center console, dripping water on my scarf, which I had laid down while I repacked my bag. I glared at him but he didn't even notice, as he had already turned to focus on his phone once again. I angrily stuffed the rest of the items in my bag, and crossed my arms staring straight ahead.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that he turned to look at me, then all of the sudden leaned over me. "What are you doing?" as I squirmed in my seat, hoping to create a gap between us.

He grabbed the seat belt and pulled it across my body, to buckle it. "We can't move without seat belts buckled," he said with a smirk.

I turned red and just looked out the window as he started the drive back to the office.

I leaned slightly on the glass, hoping that the cold hard glass would calm my heated face. I pulled away when I felt calmer, I stared outside but my view was slightly obscured by the raindrops streaming down.

My mind trailed off, started making a mental note of stuff to take with me on my trip to New York. I knew that I wouldn't have many more good days before my eyes gave out and I wouldn't be able to hide my illness from him anymore. I felt a tightness in my chest, I would miss him so much. I had adored him since our first meeting in middle school. He wasn't always the way he is now.

Thinking back to our first actual meeting, I still cringe at how incredibly embarrassing it was.

In the eighth grade I had joined the theater club because my best friend Sally Chan was an aspiring actress and she pulled me along to keep her company. We were in the auditorium stage, having our planning meeting for the next annual fundraiser show. In the middle of the meeting, a slightly squeaky voice came echoing down the auditorium, asking if this was the theater club. After receiving confirmation from the teacher, he started walking down the center aisle.

Oh, he was incredibly handsome, with a slight swagger it was as if he was walking in slow motion. All the adoring female eyes trailed him as he walked the short distance from the door to the stage area. A few of the male students whispered and wondered why he was there. He was always so quiet, definitely not the type of person to join a performance they said.

Mrs. Clark cleared her throat and welcomed him to the club, thus effectively snapping everyone's attention back to the matter at hand.

He walked off to the side of the stage to retrieve a chair and moments later sat it down right on the other side of me. Sally was on my right, while Nicholas was on my left. Mrs. Clark continued the explanation and ideas of the next annual show. She was describing all the available openings for performing characters, some of the related tasks, and also including those positions that were needed behind the scenes.

Suddenly, Mrs. Clark called my name and without thinking raised my hand answered loudly "Present."

Everyone laughed.

I quickly adjusted my position and sat up straight. I was blushing hard. Turned so red that a Red Delicious apple would have looked pink in comparison. I sat there with my hands tucked in between my thighs and my back straighter than a board, I didn't dare look anywhere but down at my hands.

Mrs. Clark started to talk again and the laughter died down, "What I wanted to ask you, was if you were going to be able to have your mother prepare the costumes again this year."

I looked up at her to answer and some of the embarrassment faded. "Yes, sure. Let me ask her and I'll let you know during our next meeting."

When I finished answering and Mrs. Clark had moved on to converse with another student. Sally giggled to my right, I elbowed her, and she feigned pain. That lightened the mood and I smiled. I readjusted in my seat, and uncontrollably, stole a glance over at Nicholas but he wasn't looking at me.

A bit disappointed I continue to pay attention to the meeting.

The sound of a car horn brought my mind back to the present.

Looking out I saw the sky was getting darker and the rain a lot heavier. Before I could ask him if he wanted to pull over somewhere for coffee or dinner and let the storm pass, I felt a hard jolt! We had very violently swerved to the right, and as if time slowed from that moment, I saw a car crash into Nicholas' side. Glass flew at me, as I saw Nicholas holding tightly on to the steering wheel and his eyes grew wider.

Our car was pushed to the side and like sitting on the Tea Cup ride at Disneyland, our heads and bodies went along with the motion of the car while the seat belts kept us slightly in our seats. I saw his eyes turn toward me as we finally stopped, we had hit the lamp post on the sidewalk. My head had hit the glass on impact and everything went dark, the last thing I remember was the fear I saw in his eyes.