Autumn Outside The Post Office Novels & Stories

The sun was setting in the west, and the last ray of light on the horizon faded. The sky gradually darkened. Arabella stood in front of the window and looked at the tall sycamore trees outside. The cool night breeze blew in and she quickly realized that it was autumn already. The wind chimes hanging on the windowsill let out a faint ring with the wind. It was low as if it was telling a certain story. She didn’t know if it was because it was autumn or something else, but she actually felt a little cold.

Autumn paused for a moment before replying, "I can’t reveal my identity. It would only stir up trouble, especially with the Lewis family. I want nothing to do with them." Ethan replied with a sticker that said he understood. Autumn glanced at it, then set her phone down and focused on her work. Around four in the afternoon, Autumn suddenly received a same-city delivery. She was a little dazed when she signed for it. After the courier left, she glanced at the address—it came from a Chanel boutique.

A yawn escaped me as I stood on the paved road in front of my apartment building at five-fifty. Yes, I was ten minutes early for I didn't wanna anger the tycoon any more than he already was. A cold breeze blew past me, raising the hairs at the back of my neck. Holy pumpkins! A shudder rippled through me as my hands shot up, rubbing my arms warm. It was almost the end of September and the beginning of fall. The yellowish hues in the leaves apprised of that.

"I'm leaving. Close and lock all the doors. I'll text you when I get back." I left when the moon was almost fully risen. My watch read at 9:40. The post office wasn't too far, about ten minutes west from Old Bernard's convenience store. I walked slowly, checking my surroundings. As I passed the last lamppost before reaching the post office, I saw a middle-aged woman squatting, feeding a cat. I passed her without saying hello, though she turned and looked at me. I entered the post office, which was actually just Irwin's camouflage. There was only one clerk on duty, a vegetarian vampire Irwin's father had helped decades ago.

The shop windows are decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows, and cornstalks. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked cookies, crisp fall leaves, and bubbling stew. I stop walking. "It's so... cute." "Right?" Gregory takes my hand in his, and even though the touch is shocking I don't resist it. Instead, I allow myself to be led down the street and to a coffee stand. "Do you like cider?" he asks me. "Who doesn't?" The girl behind the counter is wearing a plaid dress and apron. She looks like she's in her early twenties. "Hi Gregory. What can I get for you?"

Hopefully, nobody would notice how tired I looked if it framed my face just right. The cold Autumn air greeted me the moment that I stepped outside. The warm jacket that I grabbed blocked out the cold, which was good because there looked like there was a storm on the horizon. It wasn’t uncommon this time of year. I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and started walking. It was a damn good thing that the school wasn’t too far away. Ten minutes later, I reached the busy parking lot. Music was already pouring out of the rolled-down windows as people socialized with each other. “Boo!” Cassie’s voice took me by surprise.

I turned and went to wait for the car. The evening air outside was cooler than I'd expected, the particular September cool of a city that has been holding onto summer too long and has finally accepted the argument for autumn. I stood on the front steps of the estate while Gio brought the car around and breathed it in, the outside air, the air that had not been conditioned and recirculated and filtered through the particular atmospheric pressure of rooms where things were alwaysslightly below the surface of what was being said. My phone buzzed.

This area gets almost no foot traffic after midnight. Mom is going to lecture me for hours if she finds out. Shaking my head, I walk on stiff legs toward my car. I’m not as drunk as Adriana, yet walking on the uneven concrete is a challenge. Popping open my trunk, I search until I find the jean jacket I tossed in there some months ago. I packed it for the coming fall weather, but summer pressed on unexpectedly, taunting the city with its scorch even as September bled into October. As I slip my arms through the sleeves and adjust the front, I feel a lump in the right-side pocket. Pulling out the wrinkled yellow Post-it note, I read the scribbled writing.

I look around the station, wondering where we are going. It's late afternoon now, the sun is starting to set through the huge windows above us, giving off a warm light which mixes with the cool autumn breeze blowing through here and there. The station is pretty empty. It looks like most people went home hours ago or just came from work early. I can't see anyone else here. He notices me staring and gives me an apologetic look. "Sorry. I guess we got caught up talking." I shrug. "No problem. We're always busy talking anyway."

The weekend came and it was a beautiful autumn day, Chloe stepped outside into the crisp, refreshing air, feeling invigorated by the change of scenery and the warm sun shining down on her. The vibrant colors of fall painted the trees in shades of red, orange, and gold, creating a picturesque backdrop for her visit to the pack house and orphanage. She had been yearning for some time outdoors, and the idea of spending the day with the pack children filled her heart with joy.