Posted september 5th, 2020

We had a family dinner.

With everyone that had been in my room at the hospital. Father, mother, Nora, Daniel, Tess, Amber, Isic. Nora's two kids; sara, 19, and Zak, 21.

Roxanne came, too. And Ian, her child.

I felt so grateful to be there with them in our big useless backyard at a long table- the backyard finally came to good use. Surrounded by loud chatter, giggles, and people who really wanted to make me eat all the food, I was blessed.

It was my family and friends. Very good friends. Maybe famil- no family is blood only.

It reminded me there was someone missing. I carefully stood up, and smiled at Isic, Tess and Daniel who looked at me questiongly. "don't worry guy. Not tryna die again."

At least not this soon, I thought, chuckling to myself.

I went to dad's seat, on the other side, of the table, and whispered in his ears, looking for someone. At first, he frozed, and didn't understand my request. But one look at my face, and he understanding the need to see him that was itched in every feature, and scar on my face.

I needed to say thank you.

"he's getting here soon." He said.

I shook my head. After living with him, for such a short amount of time, I understood some of the inner workings of his brain. "I think he's doubting himself. Please call him. he deserves this."

I had a small idea in mind. Ken fully turned to face me behind this chair, and this attracted a few people's attention. Then, something played in his eyes, and his lips slightly lifted upward.

That was his smile. Had always been. How had I been blind to that?

"you're right."

He excused himself to a few people, and went a few meters and called. Now that we weren't "married" I couldn't spend time alone with him for too long without risking receiving a fine.

I went back to my seat, and fell in easy chatter with my family and good friends- all those who fought for me, and love me no matter how crazy that was.

I didn't miss his uncertain steps as we was approaching the table. I stood up, and met him halfway.

I couldn't hold it my smile. "and we meet again. This time, as who we really are? Autumn, and Calumn?" I frowned in a funny way. "who are we?"

He had met me as Blue, and Alexa. But never as Autumn.

His tense face relaxed a little, and he smiled wholeheartedly too. My attempt at making him comfortable worked.

"what can I say? You like to hide from me." He said.

I shook my head and turned backwards. I wasn't surprised to see everyone looking at us. Calumn squirmed under their attention. Most of them all didn't know him.

I spoke quickly to make him more at ease. "if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here." I started, looking at deeply curious and interested gazes. "in a place of profound uncertainty, and fear, he was the only person on my side. The only one who dared to befriend me, and protect me like a lot of people rarely did."

I saw a few people lower their gazes I guilt. Others, like Ken and Mother, looked straight into my eyes with that glint of guilt. Although they had failed me in more ways than I could think of before, I wasn't calling any one out. I was just speaking the truth.

I didn't want to shy away from it anymore.

"I'm not here to call out people. I'm here to speak my truth. I don't want to shy away from it anymore."

I knew now that Calumn was part of an organization called the Night Knights, who work closely with the cops at times to resolve conflicts, and secretly help people.

Tess moved to Vancouver because of them. And yes, she had gone undercover in the Enforcers Of Peace to discover info about Blake to not only at him to the police, but help protect me. Ken was a head chief there. Nora was also part of them.

And Cherry, my mother, knows about them. As well as Amber too, they helped her when she got entangled with Blake the wrong way.

"he deserves a raise. To something higher. To something that lets him use his his skills for the best. He isn't 'new' to the work anymore."

Ken, and Nora were the ones who truly had power in the organization. While Nora nodded, Ken stayed silent.

"dad?" I said. There was a very tense moment between us where I felt like he was going to disagree.

But he didn't. not totally.

"for me. It's a yes. But we'll have to discuss it as a group, and now is not the right time."

He stood up, and put his arms around Calumn's shoulder. Walking towards a table to an empty chair, I noticed Calumn's small smile at what Ken whispered in his ears.

"let the party truly begin." Ken said.

Isic threw a cake at Calumn's face. He dodged it. but still ended up with icing on his face. Chatter continued again. I stayed seated for a while, and enjoyed the moment. Truly enjoyed.

I took a few minutes, and just tried to be aware of all the sensations in my body.

Then about an hour later, I subtly left the table, and walked away in the darkening sky. I thought I had been sleek.

But I didn't.

"where are you going?" someone said.

I recognized the voice before I saw its familiar features. And sure enough, I wasn't wrong.

Calumn.

"just going for a walk." I said. I wanted to think about my experiment. I only had three weeks left before the sensitivity test.