Pink Lady

It is always so oxymoronic in autumn. Leaves on trees bright green and their brothers and sisters fiery orange, scattered on the cold wet floors.

I love autumn; the weather is not too cold and the outfits are so cute and comfy.

There isn’t much to do in our little town. I live in a small town just outside London. I live with my parents and my sisters. I love them all dearly but sometimes I just need to get away.

My favourite thing to do is go apple picking. It is great at this time of year. They are at their ripest. The bright greens and golden yellows of the apples hung lowly on the trees ready to be picked.

I go out just after school with my basket. I got it from my grandparents as a gift. It’s woven with flowers and vines.

I get to my favourite spot when I hear laughter and shouting.

“Ahh look who it is! If it isn’t snooty Samira, with her silly basket!” shouted Austin.

He drove me insane. He is so full of himself and so mean to me. For the life of me I don’t know why.

He is with his friends, so I don’t say anything. I just look him in the eye, then look him up and down with disgust on my face for all his friends to see. Then I just walk away.

”Don‘t walk away from me!” he hollers after me, and grabs me by the wrist; spinning me around to face him.

I hate to admit it but he is quite beautiful. He has stunning grey eyes, with bushy eye brows that frame them. His hair is chocolate brown and so curly; I just want to run my fingers through it. Then there are his pinky plump lips and his tall frame that stares down at me.

I could tell I was staring, so I turned away and stole my wrist back from his grasp.

”Why are you so mean to me?” I whispered but I didn’t wait for an answer. I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t turn back but I knew he was running after me.

I kept on running, hearing him shout my name. Urgency laced in his voice.

Then suddenly darkness.

The next thing I knew I was in hospital. In pain may I add. I look around the hospital room to find my parents and one of my younger sisters smiling at me with tears in their eyes.

“What happened Mummy?” I winced, with a croak in my voice.

“Baby, you got hit by a car and your friend carried you to the hospital. The ambulance was taking too long. If it weren’t for him you would had been paralysed sweetie,” my mum said sniffling, wiping her tears away.

The nurse came in. She had a smile and a clip board in hand.

”Your bloods are okay and the report came back from the surgery and your left leg and arm will be okay sweetie. Also you have a visitor. He hasn’t left since you got here last night,” she smiled and left the room.

In came Austin. He looked guilt ridden and very tired looking. His clothes were all wrinkled and blood on his shirt. He looked me in the eyes, never taking his gaze off me. His eyes were blood shot. He had clearly been crying.

“Mr and Mrs Sanders. Is it alright if I could speak to Samira alone please?” He asked with a small voice hands behind his back.

They smiled at him and nodded. When leaving my dad gave him a hand shake and my mum hugged him. My sister gave me a wink as she left the room.

He was now beside me. Staring down at me. He tried to place a strand of hair out my face, but I flinched. He looked hurt.

”So you are the one that took me to hospital?” I whispered not being able to look him in the eye. I looked up at the blank ceiling instead.

“Look Samira. I am sorry you are in hospital because of me. I did not mean to scare you back there. I really like you and that is why I tease you. I was chasing after you to say I am sorry for being a silly boy. I am sorry for being a jerk to you. Look I even bought you an apple,” he rambled all flustered.

He liked me. He liked me so much that he stayed until he knew I was okay.

I felt my face heat up when he handed me an apple. It was large and pink, with green and yellow hues.

“It‘s a Pinky Lady apple. I know you like apples because I watch you pick them after school,” he says with rosy cheeks and he looks down from what I presume is due to embarrassment.

“Thank-you for taking me to the hospital and thank-you for the apple, it looks delicious,” I smile at him and he nods.

“Maybe you can take me apple picking one day?” he asked shyly, turning away; almost afraid that I would say no.

“I would really like that,” I smiled up at him. The next thing I know he had kissed me.

It was slow and passionate. His lips tasted like cherries. He pulled away and grabbed a seat next me. He never took his eyes off me. We talked for hours and he promised me as soon as I was out of hospital he would take me apple picking.

A couple of days later, Austin and I went to a field full of apple trees.

He pushed my wheelchair through the crunchy leaves that lay on the floor. I couldn’t use crutches because I had hurt my arm too. I had my basket in my hand and he would stop and pick apples, placing them in the basket.

We were having fun and talking about all our favourite things.

Although our favourite thing to do together was go apple picking in the autumn.

By Sophia Sackey