Chapter 190 Autumn’s POV

Chapter 190 Autumn’s POV
SIX MONTHS LATER

The sky above was a beautiful mix of lilac and warm gold. The summer air smelled of wild lavender and sweet honeysuckle blowing in from the meadow beyond the tracks. I came back to the train state that started it all, it's been a year and a wonderful therapy session had finally come to an end.

I stood near the wooden bench where I had once sat shivering, my posture straight and my head held high, I wore a simple cream colored sundress that caught the light breeze, my hair falling over my shoulders. My mind was finally clear, the dark voices that had once convinced me that I was a curse had been completely silenced, finally replaced by a full desire to live, to live and embrace even a single moment of the future waiting for me.

A distant whistle echoed across the caller, announcing the arrival of the afternoon train. My heart gave a sudden leap, I smoothed the skirt of my dress, my hands steady and calm. The train glided smoothly into the station, the conductor stepped down, nodding politely to me as the passengers slid open.

Then he stepped onto the platform... Jared, my breath hitched slightly and the entire world around us shrunk into irrelevance. He wore a very simple outfit since he just returned from the countryside.

His dark hair was brushed back, framing his sharp jawline but it was his eyes that shook me completely, as his gaze swept across the platform and locked onto mine, the held back restraint of a year vanished, replaced by an overwhelming emotion that took the air right out my lungs.

For a single second, we just stared at each other across the wooden planks. The force of the past year settled around like a soft breeze. We had survived everything together before I could register anything more. Jared took one big step toward me, his lips parted as if to say my name.

I didn't wait for him to say anything as I ran to him, a wide laugh on my lips that echoed across the quiet station. He was shocked for a while and before he could do anything, he opened his arms wide as I threw myself into his chest.

The impact knocked the breath straight out of me but I didn't care, his arms were wrapped around my waist lifting my feet completely off the floor and pulling me tight against his body. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar intoxicating scent that I missed dearly.

"Autumn..." Jared choked out, his deep voice trembling violently with an emotion so heavy, it shook his entire frame. He held me so close I could feel the rapid bear of his heart thumping against his rib, matching the wild racing of my own, "My God... Autumn... I've missed you!"

"I'm here, Jared," I sobbed happily, tears of pure joy spilling over my eyelashes, washing away the lingering ghosts of my past as I cupped his face into my trembling hands, "I'm right here."

He lowered me slowly until my feet touched the ground but he didn't let go, his hands sliding up to frame my cheeks as his thumbs wiped away my tears, his eyes searching every inch of my face with a hunger so intense, my feet almost became wobbly.

"Look at you," Jared whispered, his voice thick with happiness, his eyes shone with tears of his own, "you're glowing, you look so happy."

"I am happy," I promised, leaning into his touch, pressing a soft kiss on his cheek, "I fought through the dark, Jared. I broke the cycle, I'm no longer running, I want a life, a future and I want it with you."

Jared let out a long exhale pressing his forebear against mine, his hot breath brushing across my lips, "there hasn't been a single second of the year where I haven't loved you, not a single second." Slowly, Jared stepped back, his dark eyes never leaving mine, he reached into his pocket pulling out a small box.

He knelt on one knee right there on the sunny side of the station, the very place where our unhinged story had begun in the dark, he flipped the lid open, inside was a simple breathtaking ring, a beautiful oval cut diamond set in a delicate band of silver that caught the rays of the sun that was setting.

"A year ago, you felt you were Midas touch, running away from a past that was almost destroyed, refusing to ruin anyone but I refused to give up," Jared said, his voice steady, ringing with absolute love and desire. "Today, you are the bravest, most beautiful woman I have ever known, I promised you time to heal but now I want to give you a lifetime of joy."

He took a deep breath with a warm smile laced on his lips, "Autumn... will you marry me?" The four words left his lips beautiful as a small tear streamed down my face.

"Yes! Jared, yes! A thousand times, yes!" I cried out, dropping to my knees beside him, throwing my arms around his neck as he slid the cool silver ring onto my finger. He pulled me into a hot kiss right under the beautiful golden dusk. When we finally broke the kiss, he cleaned the tear that was streaming down my face, "don't cry, we have a wedding to plan." I smacked his shoulder slightly as he held me softly, "what... it's true!"

I stared at him with a smile pulling him into another hug that made me feel relaxed. We walked hand in hand moving past the trail that could have taken my life, then I looked back at him, "Jared, there's one more thing I have to tell you..."

He looked at me with a mix of fear confusion but remained calm, "don't worry, don't be scared, it's just a little secret I haven't told you before," I motioned for him to drop lower then I whispered, "we met a long time ago back at a Science fair in our early grade..." he raised his head back to me then his eyes widened with pure shock, "wait... you're the red hair Autumn!"