Autumn Chloe Radford

Leo jumped to his feet. "Where is he going?" He looked at me, and I could see nothing but panic on his face.

"He went to get Miles and the others from downstairs," I said, confused. What the fuck was going on? Something in my gut told me Leo was not overreacting for once.

Leo walked to me quickly and grabbed my arm. "Look," he spoke and paused briefly. "I need to go handle something, okay?"

"No, no, no, Leo. You're not doing anything. What's happening? You need to tell me," I spat, as he walked away from me.

I held his wrist and pulled him closer to me. Just as I was about to open my mouth, he put a finger on my lip to silence me. "For once in your damn life, let it go," he said, looking right at me. He pointed to my parents. "They need you way fucking more than I do, okay?"

"I'll tell you when it's time. But right now, we both know that I have to handle whatever is going on," he ordered, and for the first time I agreed with him. Although the controlling voice in my head was telling me that I needed to fix whatever was happening, it isn't the place or the time. It was times like this that made me realise why Leo is the leader.

I nodded. Leo looked at me one more time, still wondering if he was doing the right thing. He didn't want to think about it anymore, so he closed the door behind him as he left.

Sighing, I sat down on Leo's stool. There they were, their chests barely moving up and down with soft breaths coming from their mouths. "It's just us now," I said quietly, looking down. "Nothing left for me to run away to. I can't believe that everything leads to this. I would be naive not to expect it but, fuck it, what's the point of lying? I always had a part of me that thought that eventually it would stop. How long could you guys hurt yourselves for? I mean, there must be a limit!" I exclaimed, and I took a deep breath to calm myself down, and there they were, almost lifeless.

"Ever since the abortion I knew things were going to be different. I could feel it, and it just spiralled way out of control. But, dad, I forgive you. I know that you were completely black out drunk when you did it," I said, I could feel myself welling up again.

What I was saying made no difference now. I got them help too late, and now it's over. "I know you thought it was her when you did it," I said and out came the tears. "In my dream I kept hearing her name over and over again."

I was sobbing now. "When I had to pee on a stick I knew I was fucked up."

I put my hands on my face to silence the sobs. My skin was way too warm, and I could feel that post crying headache creeping in.

"Everyday I watched you forget and then remember and hate yourself all over again but I was too young and too fucking stupid to tell you I forgive you. It was completely out of the blue and I know it wasn't you. I know that no one will ever get it but fuck that. You guys were great parents before this booze bullshit. I loved you two but now it's just hurt. After the abortion it was just this never ending whirlwind of crap." I was whisper shouting now and I know that the words I was saying were impossible to make out.

My heart was thumping out of my body and I felt that my breaths were on a loudspeaker. I took a big, deep breath. Inhale. Exhale.

It was a terrible feeling to be alone with them and feel this horrifying, inescapable sadness. This dread, of knowing that it was over and it was completely out of my hands now.

"I know it's selfish to say all of that, because I could tell it was killing you way more than it was killing me. And I will miss you guys, so so much. I don't know why but I will. You guys needed me and I'm so sorry I let you down," I put my hands together and almost begged to whatever was up there to not let this happen.

The door slammed open, banging against the wall. "Autumn, you have a lot of explaining to do," Penny said, and she looked pissed off.

I wiped my face quickly and cleared my throat. Then, I took a moment to just be confused because what the fuck is happening?

"Speak. Now." She said firmly. God. No wonder why Alex shits himself around her.

"Penny, what is going on?" I said, with an innocence for the first time that wasn't fake.

"I have just been called in by the police. Would you like to enlighten me why Alexander has just confessed to the bank robbery?"