Deer Falls, Volume 1
Autumn hates her mother and the poverty they live in. She is ashamed of both but her hate defines her. If only her mother would tell her about her father or at least his name! When Autumn’s mother needs surgery, she opts to care for her rather than go to a foster home. It is during this time she finds her mother’s journals and her father. This reversal of mother/daughter roles renders insight to both sides of their relationship. Chris’s twin brother is murdered. He battles grief and doubts of his own sanity due to seeing and hearing his dead brother. He struggles with the transition from ‘Chris n Craig’ to ‘Just Chris’. It is the nightmares that finally reveal the awful truth. Ian is brutally abused by his alcoholic father. He develops empathic tendencies from being constantly alert to his father’s moods. He stays in a cave when things get really bad. Ian’s ability gets him into trouble with the law when he rescues a girl from being raped. It is then that Ian fears he is turning into his father. These three teens each find their way through unavoidable circumstances that life throws their way. Through these difficulties, they learn what is important to them, realize their own potential and who they are in the world.
Autumn hates her mother and the poverty they live in. She is ashamed of both but her hate defines her. If only her mother would tell her about her father or at least his name! When Autumn’s mother needs surgery, she opts to care for her rather than go to a foster home. It is during this time she finds her mother’s journals and her father. This reversal of mother/daughter roles renders insight to both sides of their relationship.
Chris’s twin brother is murdered. He battles grief and doubts of his own sanity due to seeing and hearing his dead brother. He struggles with the transition from ‘Chris n Craig’ to ‘Just Chris’. It is the nightmares that finally reveal the awful truth.
Ian is brutally abused by his alcoholic father. He develops empathic tendencies from being constantly alert to his father’s moods. He stays in a cave when things get really bad. Ian’s ability gets him into trouble with the law when he rescues a girl from being raped. It is then that Ian fears he is turning into his father.
These three teens each find their way through unavoidable circumstances that life throws their way. Through these difficulties, they learn what is important to them, realize their own potential and who they are in the world.
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<strong>Deer</strong> <strong>Falls</strong><br />
"Autumn," Mom says softly, breaking my trance. She is looking out over the rail as if she can<br />
see the <strong>Falls</strong>. "You are the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Do you know that I love<br />
you more than words can express?"<br />
She turns her face to me. I don't respond, but I see the sincerity in her eyes. "You don't have<br />
to do this, Autumn. You can back out. It's not too late yet. I will love you regardless of your choice."<br />
My throat goes tight, trying to swallow down the reality of why she is describing her love to<br />
me. I hide the moment's sensation, and her words, deep inside of me.<br />
"I want to do this, Mom." She looks at me more intensely, nods her head gently like she is<br />
answering a question in her mind.<br />
"Mom?"<br />
"Hm?"<br />
"I love you too."<br />
She reaches out and takes me in her arms. There is no hesitation in her hug this time. She feels<br />
welcomed by me. She steps back, takes a deep breath, and releases a long white plume. She<br />
squares her shoulders, raises her chin and asks, "Ready?"<br />
A stern-looking man enters the waiting room. His beady eyes dart around, then land on me. He's<br />
wearing a surgeon's cloth hat and coat. He has a matching face mask that dangles around his neck.<br />
"Autumn Riley?" He moves toward me.<br />
"Yes." I don't like this man. I hold my breath from nervousness I guess, or else my body is<br />
rebelling against him. I can barely hear him through the swishing and pounding in my ears. "I'm<br />
Doctor Jacobs." He extends his hand. I ignore it. This is the hand that gambled with my Mom's<br />
life. "Your mom is out of surgery. It went well." I breathe again. I feel dizzy as he rambles on<br />
through a well-rehearsed spiel.<br />
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