Page 1 of Ms Perfectly Fine
Prologue
10 Years Ago
SNOW CRUNCHED UNDER Autumn’s fingertips as she regained consciousness. Her breath fogged in front of her as she lay on her back, telling her she was outside in the cold, but she felt cradled by waves of heat emanating around her body.
Did I black out? Did I faint during the performance?She had never passed out before, especially not during a piano recital.Even if I did pass out…whereamI?
Glancing around, she took in the broken wooden beams everywhere, trembling as she realised that she was no longer on the outdoor stage, but beneath it.The stage collapsed?Her brain tried to piece events together. She remembered playing, and then—nothing.
Something was looming over her. She realised it was her piano, but it was no longer whole, crushed by the weight of the beams she guessed had once made up the roof.
A terrified cry escaped her. She was trapped. She panted, fearing that what remained of the stage would come down on her.The piano is taking the weight. Relax. Someone will find you.The inner voice soothed her, keeping her from descending into panicking, but whimpers still escaped her.
If you’re afraid, you’re alive,the voice reassured her, and Autumn made an effort to stay her breathing.Where’s Mollie?she thought frantically. Her friend had been right beside her before this had happened.She must be further back. I hope she’s okay.The silence worried her. It seemed to taunt her, as though the stage was cut off from the rest of the world.
The snow melted beneath her back, and her dampening clothes caused her to shiver. Her soft cries only drained her further, and she remembered that her mum always said to take a breath when scared. Autumn attempted to take a deep breath only to finally learn where the heat was coming from. A cluster of fallen stage lights in the near distance had caught fire. Panicking, she inhaled sharply.
Smoke invaded her lungs, inspiring a coughing fit that highlighted her injuries. Instinctively, she covered her mouth, but the movement swelled an agony in her back that caused sparkles to form in her vision. Tears poured down her cheeks, not only because she was terrified, but because the smoke stung her eyes. Every part of her body hurt, making it impossible to pinpoint where she was injured.
“Help!” she cried out, desperate for this nightmare to end, but no one answered.
“Please! I’m under here!”
Again, unanswered, and the smoke was growing thicker.
Slow movements. I have to get out of here.Autumntried to move her legs; the relief of being able to wriggle her toes was overwhelming. Attempting to sit up, she cried out and collapsed as she discovered that a piece of wood had broken off from either a beam or the piano and was pinning her down.I need to pull it out if I’m to get out of here!She gripped the wood and was blinded by pain. The heat of the flames mixed with the icy cold of the snow disorientated her. All she wanted was to go home.
“Mum, please help me,” Autumn cried out with all the strength she could muster—though it only came out as a whisper—feeling her tears roll down her cheeks.
Just when she thought all hope was lost, she saw torches flashing through the debris, followed by the echoing shouts of strangers. She waited for Mollie to cry out, but no one called.Mollie, please call out to them. Please say something!
She faded in and out of consciousness, and her breathing grew shallow. The beeping of radios and muffled shouts above her were a blur of sounds.
“Autumn! Mollie! Call out if you can hear us! Bang something if you can’t!”
Relief coursed through her veins. They were coming for her, but she didn’t have the energy to respond. There was nothing she could hit to make a sound, and the pain radiating through her spine was taking the last ounce of energy she had.
“Over here! We’ve found one of the girls! Keep the parents back,” she heard.
They found Mollie. She’s safe.
Please, I’m here,Autumn pleaded silently, but her adrenaline waned, and her eyelids grew heavy.
Chapter One
Autumn
SWEAT TRICKLED DOWN Autumn’s forehead as she pressed her palms into her eyes, hoping to scrub away the memories. Ten years of counselling and still the same nightmare.
Her chest felt heavy, as if someone was sitting on her, preventing her escape. It was always the same dream, although sometimes her mind liked to play tricks by changing her age or the season. Last night, it had settled for the original.Sixteen. Winter showcase.
“Just breathe,” she chanted, and removed the sheets from her body.
On the edge of the bed, she looked out of the large-paned windows to the blooming cherry blossom tree in the front garden, trying to ground herself back in the present. She scrunched her toes in her white, fluffy carpet as relief finally washed through her veins.
“If I don’t start sleeping, I’m going to keep messing up in rehearsals,” she said to herself, placing a hand over the scar on her aching back where the wood had once pierced only inches from her spine. The thought of performing her piano solo in four weeks had obviously triggered her memories, her subconscious plaguing her to recognise what her conscious mind begged to forget. Her former therapist had told her it was all part of the healing process, but a process that lasted ten years would drive anyone to the edge.
Maybe I should have waited another year before I accepted the offer to perform,she thought, pulling herself from the beige sheets. Some people might call her bedsheets, ivory walls, and cream carpets boring, but she liked to keep things simple.
