"Morning, Mom!"

She smiles slightly, flipping a burning pancake. "Morning, hon. How'd you sleep?"

"Fine," I reply. Ever since going to the ice cream shop with my cousin a few days ago, I've realized I can't spend my whole life mourning over Autumn.

It's just causing me pain. It's forcing me to quit enjoying life and instead spend it crying. So, last night, I wrote my last letter to Autumn in her journal. It seems fitting, fitting for me to let go of the last psychical attachment to her. Although I won't be able to discard the book yet, at least I'll leave it sitting in my drawer, untouched.

Dear Autumn,

I've been mourning you for so long. It hurts day after day to know everything I've ever known has been ripped apart. The only person I felt a true romantic connection with is gone. We're all shells of our former selves. The world is forever changed.

Thank you for saving us from Chips, for helping me to see past restraints and into freedom. I've expanded past Jared and gawking people feeding off my money and 'popularity'. I've made new friends, I've even become more confident.

You've given Jared the gift of Eva. Although, they don't seem to be on the best terms, I'm sure they'll be fine. We're all going to be fine eventually. At least we have each other, right?

Goodbye, Autumn. I'm sure you're up there with God looking down at me and smiling. Or, maybe laughing. Either way, I'll see you one day, but today isn't that day. It's going to be hard, but we're all going to have to learn to move on.

Love,

Cody.

"That's good!" My mother chirps, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Do you want a pancake?"

My stomach turns inside out at the sight of the burnt, buttery creation. "Um, no thanks. I'm running a bit late anyways."

"It's only-"

"I have to get there early to finish a group project." It's a lie, but at least it'll spare her feelings. She's my mother and I couldn't bare to hurt her in any way. Not after all the bonding we've been through after this experience.

"Oh, alright! Have a good day."

I walk up and give her a side hug and she kisses my cheek, just like she used to years ago when I was a kid. Smiling for the first time in a while, I walk out of the door and into the fresh air, my jacket tugged around me. It's chilly these days, but rarely actually cold.

It's almost Christmas. You can barely tell. There's no snow anymore, or any dying trees, as they're all fake. However, there seems to be a sense of happiness in the air.

I walk and walk, the trek to school an endless walk of misery. My thoughts are like a prison, but not anymore. I'm busting out of the bad thoughts and bringing forth the new, better ones.

It'll be our first Christmas without Chips. We're even getting a full week off instead of the lousy two days we used to. My dad always hated Christmas, the thought of being forced with family or celebrating the birthday of a higher power.

I've always loved the happiness and joy that comes from the occasion. Only one more day until we're off from school.

"Cody!"

I turn to find Eva speeding towards me. A sigh escapes me as I slow down my pace, allowing her to catch up to me.

"You were right!" She pants, out of breath.

I furrow my eyebrows. "About what? And are you okay?"

She nods, dismissing my worries with the wave of a hand. "I'm more than okay. She's alive, Cody, you're right!"

My heart starts pounding and hope rises within me. Yet, I force it to diminish. Just the other day she told me that Autumn wasn't alive and I should just drop it. Who is she to get my hopes up? No, I can't do this again.

"Stop talking crazy!" I berate her, anger rising within me.

"No, I have proof!"

I roll my eyes. "I'm moving past this now, Eva.
It's almost Christmas, and that's what we need to be celebrating. We're not going to entertain any delusions."

She grips my arm and forces me to stop in my tracks. Our eyes battle with each other for a moment, neither of our lips emitting a sound.

Wordlessly, Eva pulls something out of her pocket. It's charred and small, almost looking like half of something. My eyes nearly bulge out of my skull when I realize what it is; my dad's Chip, the one Autumn broke that got rid of all Chips forever.

"Wha-"

She places her fingers over my lips, causing me to become silent. Written on the charred piece is 'She's not dead.'

Eva steps back, excitement evident on her visage.

I shake my head. "Anyone could have written that, Eva."

"Well, what if she is alive? What if there's something that someone isn't telling us, Cody? Will you settle for a bad ending and no pain or a good ending and some pain for the journey."

"Neither. This is the end to everything, and we're going to move on with our lives."

Eva shakes her head, tears pricking her eyes. "Cody, please. Just give it a week, and if we find nothing in that span of time, I'll give it up. Forever."

I consider this, and despite everything in me arguing against it, I nod. "Okay, but the week needs to be after Christmas."

"But-"

"Or we don't have a deal."

She weighs this in her mind and nods as well. Then, she sticks out her hand, the one not holding the Chip, and I shake it. 

We walk to school, side-by-side, in silence. Once we arrive, students are already littering the halls. We split our separate ways to gather our belongings from our lockers, preparing for the day of learning ahead of us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Jared next to Eva. He's eyeing her quizzically as though questioning her sanity. Then, I see the Chip in her hand, and I understand what she's asking of him and why his face is scrunched up that way.

Hesitantly, I walk over to them.

"Ev-"

"Come on, Jared! Why won't you believe me? Or even talk to me? You don't seem to miss Autumn at all! You've been such a jerk!"

My cousin rolls his eyes. "You're caught up on a dead person."

Eva is shaking, close to tears. "I-I can't believe you!"

"I can't believe you either! Look what you're trying to do to my cousin, you're trying to give him false hope! Don't play with our feelings! I do miss my friend, but at least I'm not acting like I've lost my mind."

She slaps him, hard. The sound echoes and eyes turn to stare. When I look back to the couple, Eva is gone, leaving Jared to clutch his cheek.

I place my hand on his shoulder. "I guess I'm not the only one with girl problems, huh?"

He shrugs off my hand. "Your girl is dead, get over it."

As he walks away, I clench my teeth. Since when has my cousin become such a coldhearted jerk?

---

You guys wanted an update, so here it is! It's not Autumn- yet, but still, it's something. I was thinking of making an update schedule. Should I? What should it be?

QOTD: What do you think of Jared's attitude?

-Sarah