Dusk of september, p.1
Dusk of September, page 1
Dusk of September
Elaine Abbott
Dusk of September Copyright © 2018 by Elaine Abbott. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Author Name
Visit my website at https://elaineabbottauthor.wordpress.com/
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing: Sep 2018
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dusk of September is a novella about two individuals, facing life’s obstacles and falling in love in a catastrophic world. | —Elaine Abbott
September 1, 2018
September 15, 2012
September 15, 2018
September 30, 2013
September 30, 2018
October 4, 2014
October 4, 2018
November 26, 2015
November 22, 2018
December 1, 2016
December 31, 2018
January 1, 2017
January 1, 2019
February 14, 2019
March 22, 2017
March 22, 2019
April 21, 2019
May 8, 2019
June 12, 2019
July 4, 2019
August 8, 2019
August 9, 2019
September 1, 2019
September 30, 2019
October 4, 2019
About the Author
Dusk of September is a novella about two individuals, facing life’s obstacles and falling in love in a catastrophic world.
—Elaine Abbott
September 1, 2018
I twiddled around with the engagement ring on my finger, staring at the diamonds that glistened back at me. I winced at the thought of its expense. He was quite the show-off when it came to money and material things.
I had always been content with what I had prior to meeting him, but he couldn’t have anyone associate with him unless they were wealthy, which I was not. He tried to hide that detail every second of every day.
Sitting here in this elegant restaurant awaiting his arrival made me sick. I didn’t need the luxury, but he certainly did; I suppose that’s just one of the many reasons why we clashed.
I had been waiting for him well over an hour; my glass of wine was empty, much like my sentiment. I heaved a heavy sigh at his tardiness, tucking my pale hands under my chin for support. He had been disappearing for hours, sometimes days, on end without any word. I wasn’t stupid; I knew something was transpiring.
The only reason I was still here was because we were to discuss how to tell our families and his business partners that we were ending our engagement.
I wanted to rid myself of this ring, and him, once and for all.
“Miss, how long do you think it will be before your date arrives?” a waiter asked me, giving me a stare filled with pity.
“I wish I knew.” I shrugged as my phone buzzed.
I answered the call, thankful for a distraction.
“Arabella Adkins?” an unfamiliar voice asked through the receiver.
“Yes?”
“I’m calling on behalf of Beckett Clemmons, your fiancé.” My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. “There’s been an accident.”
✽✽✽
The smells of antiseptic and sickness bombarded my senses as I bolted into the hospital. I found his parents in the corner of the waiting room.
“Where is he? What happened?”
His dad, Mike, straightened to address me as he continued soothing his wife. “It was a car pileup on the highway. He hit a semi-truck, and another one smashed into him, pushing his car beneath the one in front. They won’t let us see him.” He paused, rubbing his eyes. “We haven’t heard anything else.”
My heart filled with regret and sorrow, like a weed greedily smothering me. Regardless of our current relationship, he was still a constant in my life and had been for six years. The unknown gravity of his condition was disastrous.
It was then that I noticed his mother’s disheveled state; her mascara was runny, her clothes were tear-stained and wrinkled, and her perfect pristine hair was in an absolute mess.
“Cheryl, I’m so sorry.” I reached out and pulled his mother into an embrace. I couldn’t imagine the pain she must’ve been feeling.
She gave me a tight squeeze before pulling back and cupping my face. “I know, darling. He’s going to be okay. Please don’t fret.” The look in her eyes betrayed her words as she spoke.
His father gave me a weak smile as he nodded, aiming to confirm his wife’s surely dishonest words.
“Clemmons?” A doctor emerged from the ER doors after what seemed like an eternity.
The three of us barreled towards the doctor in a frenzy.
“How is he?” his father asked.
“Mr. and Mrs. Clemmons, I’ll be truthful with you. Beckett sustained many potentially fatal injuries. It’s a miracle that he’s survived this long. He’s been comatose since the scene of the accident. We’re doing everything we can to keep his condition from deteriorating any further.” He paused, glancing down at his clipboard to take a shaky breath.
His parents’ demeanor faded, and Cheryl released a heart-wrenching sob. “Oh, God. My baby.”
Mike’s arms enveloped her as tears dripped down his face.
“He’s not able to breathe on his own. His lungs collapsed from the impact of the accident. We put him on a ventilator to help him breathe. His internal organs are shutting down. It’s unlikely that he will survive this. However, his brain is still functioning. So, he may be able to hear you. I will come back when it’s authorized for you to see him. I’m sorry.”
A turmoil of thoughts and fears swirled inside of me. Beckett couldn’t die. Death couldn’t be this abrupt and vicious.
I turned away to maintain my composure when I noticed Beckett’s best friend, Liam, running through the doors. His blonde hair was disheveled, and his green eyes were bloodshot as they met mine. Any shred of composure I had left crumbled. The tears I had kept at bay now cascaded down my cheeks with a vengeance.
He rushed over and wrapped his arms around my tiny frame.
“It was a car accident; semi-trucks. He’s in a coma. A fucking coma, Liam. They don’t think he’ll make it,” I said, hiccupping through my tears.
He stroked my hair gently. “It’s going to be okay.”
I sniffled. “You don’t know that.”
He hesitated. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know that it’s going to be okay.”
I stared back at him, dejected and inquisitive. I never understood him. He always saw the bright side to all situations, seeing the glass half full instead of half empty. It was a blessing and a curse, being able to do that so naturally. I didn’t understand how he could feel this way in the existing circumstances. Even so, I took comfort in his words.
The doctor reappeared, informing us that we could see Beckett. We were told to go in one at a time and that only one person could stay overnight.
“Arabella, are you staying?” Cheryl asked.
“I need to be with him tonight,” I whispered.
They all nodded and entered his room one by one, his mother went in first, then his father. Liam visited Beckett while his parents came over to talk with me.
Cheryl took my hands. “Don’t blame yourself. I know you two were going to meet tonight to talk about the engagement ending and how to announce it.”
I averted my gaze to our hands. “I’m so sorry.”
Mike patted me on the back. “This isn’t your fault. None of it is. We know that and so does Beckett.”
I held back a sob. “Thank you both.” I ran my hands through my hair for what seemed like the millionth time tonight, the heaviness of guilt weighing less upon my shoulders.
“Please take care of yourself. One of us will stay with him tomorrow,” his father said.
I nodded. “I will. Be careful driving home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
A few minutes later, Liam came out of the room.
“I was just in a meeting with him today.” He ran his hands over his face.
I squeezed his shoulder.
Liam and Beckett had been best friends since college. Both became CEOs of their own corporations and they worked together on many business deals.
Even when Beckett and I first started dating, Liam had always looked out for me. I could trust and count on him without doubt. Whenever Beckett wasn’t there for me, he was. In retrospect, it was a common occurrence.
“Will you be okay here alone?” he asked.
“I have to be.”
“If you need anything, call me. I can be here.”
“Thank you. Be safe going home.”
“I will.”
I offered him a small smile before walking towards Beckett’s hospital room.
I stood outside his room and took a deep breath before opening the wooden door that separated me from him. I stepped inside warily, the door closing behind me.
His motionless body wa
White was not a comforting color. If anything, it gave me chills.
He had several machines hooked up to his body while IVs prodded him. He was black and blue with scrapes everywhere, his coal black hair tangled and matted from dried blood and sweat. His once powerful shoulders were weak and frail, his strong demeanor depleted and broken.
Beckett’s name left my lips with a cry as I sat on the leather chair next to his bed. I grabbed the hand with no IVs and drew soothing circles on his palm.
“I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t pressed you about meeting tonight...” I cupped my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs.
“I never had the chance to tell you this before, but I forgive you. I know there is someone else, you’ve never denied it. Neither of us want this relationship anymore. But I never wanted anything bad to happen to you.”
His heart monitor spiked for a few seconds before settling.
I prayed that he heard me.
He was impossible and insolent, but he was still Beckett. He won me over in the start of our relationship but what we had built for ourselves was built on materialistic desire and lust.
I felt hopeless. I let my emotions unravel and put my cheek against the palm of his hand.
“Please wake up. I need you to wake up. We all do.”
September 15, 2012
I was shuffling through the crowded campus in a haste, weaving through groups of students scattered across the sidewalk. I passed old concrete buildings, cracked vases of fake flowers, rotten wooden benches, and distinctively planted pine trees. The campus I attended wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but it was one of the most renowned universities in the state. Their photography program more than made up for the appearance of this dingy campus, which any decent photographer could make look like a work of art.
I huffed. I had failed to remember my camera in my dorm room this morning and my introduction to photography class started in just twenty minutes. It was a great start to my first day of freshman year, I thought with an eye roll. I’ve always been scatterbrained, something my parents have always chastised me about.
During my inner ramblings, a man with shiny black hair and striking hazel eyes fell into step with me. He wore a collared navy-blue sweater with white stitched letters, representing his fraternity, and fitted jeans. His ambiance was infatuating.
I glanced over at him. “Hi?”
“Hello, gorgeous.” He gave me a sly smile. “Do you have somewhere to be?”
My cheeks warmed. I hid my face behind my curls. “Maybe I do,” I mumbled. “And you are?”
“You don’t know? I’m Beckett. I’m kind of a big deal on campus.” He winked.
I blew hair from my face. “I guess this must be an honor then.”
He laughed. “You must be a freshman.”
I rolled my eyes as we rounded the curb before my dorm and came to a stop. “Is that a problem?”
“No, I like it. You’re new. I can show you around.”
“Maybe another time.”
“How about I give you my number and you can set up a time and place?”
“I’ll pass.” I gave him a side glance.
“Ouch.” He held his hand to his chest dramatically. “What’s your major?” he asked.
“Photography with a minor in business management.”
“So, you want to own a photography business?”
I nodded. “That’s the plan. What about you? What’s your major?”
“Business. CEO of my own corporation one day,” he said, eyes filling with pride. His arrogance dissipated for just a moment and I saw a man with excitement for his hopes and dreams.
I smiled. “That’s awesome.”
“Thank you. Your idea sounds promising too.” His words sounded sincere and caused my heart to skip a beat.
“It was nice to meet you, Beckett, but I have to get to class,” I said, noticing his close proximity.
“Are you trying to get away from me?” He demanded, arching one eyebrow.
“No, Sherlock. I forgot my camera in my dorm. I need it for class.”
“Too bad. I thought you were luring me to your dorm room to take advantage of me.”
I blushed. “I don’t do that type of thing.” I stared at my shoes, avoiding his burning gaze.
“You don’t seem like the girl who would.” He seemed disheartened.
“Because I’m not.”
“I like you,” he stated, his eyes raking down my body. I discreetly tugged at my dress to make it look longer than it was. I didn’t like this type of attention nor the direction this conversation was turning. “What’s your name, gorgeous?”
“Arabella,” I squeaked.
“Well, Arabella, I want you to be mine and I tend to get what I want. See you later.” He smirked before pivoting on his heel and walking the opposite direction, his hands tucked in his pockets.
My eyes were wide with amusement as I watched him leave. I shook my head at his arrogance as I entered my dorm to retrieve my camera.
September 15, 2018
“Arabella?” Liam’s voice brought me back to reality as I woke up in a panic, almost falling out of the leather chair that was pressed up against the side of the hospital bed. I had fallen asleep next to Beckett again.
I blinked, rubbing my eyes a few times. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.” My voice was groggy. I hadn’t slept well since the accident. Each time I closed my eyes my dreams were plagued with memories of him. The worst part was, these past fifteen days were the most I’d slept next to Beckett in two years.
“Please don’t apologize.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “Do you want something from the vending machine?”
“No, thank you.”
“You need to eat. He wouldn’t want you starving yourself.”
I blinked back tears. “You’re right. I’ll go grab something. Stay and talk to him.” My voice cracked as I slipped from the room.
I went to the bottom floor, to the vending machine farther away to give Liam some alone time with Beckett. I got a couple bags of chips and a can of soda before heading back to his room.
I knocked and waited a few seconds before opening the door.
Liam’s nose was red, and his eyes looked strained. I could tell he had been crying, but I didn’t pry as I sat down next to him.
“You’ll get sick of eating junk food, you know.” His tone was playful, but I could hear the concern.
I smiled and shrugged. “I need to be here, with Beckett. I feel like I owe it to him.”
“Well, of course you do. You’ve always been a great fiancée to him.”
“I’ve tried to be.” I ran my hands through my messy hair.
I did try with Beckett. I tried more than I thought was possible, but he always made everything so strenuous. I couldn’t make the perfect dinner, so he always went out to eat. I was never dressed properly, so I wasn’t allowed at his work functions much. My professionalism was never up-to-par, so he was embarrassed bringing me around his friends.
There were many red flags within our relationship that I had been too blind to see before we had decided to end the engagement. Once the decision was made, I noticed how miserable I was and how awful he treated me. I was embarrassed that I complied with everything he said. To be honest, I was much more suited to be his dog, rather than his fiancée.
“You have been.” He assured me. “I wish I had someone to take care of me like you take care of Beckett. I would appreciate them a lot. You’ve been a conversation topic between all of us. Beckett is so lucky to have a woman as great as you are to stand beside him.”
It was no secret that Beckett wasn’t the best fiancé; nobody understood why we stayed together. At first it was because I was attracted to his dominance and the way he carried himself. Once I realized he only cared about his needs and his wants, I had already spent a year with him. I thought that if I continued the relationship he would change for me. If only I could spill my guts and tell Liam that we were about to end our engagement before he ended up in here, that I was the reason he was on that road. Liam wouldn’t think so highly of me then.
“Thank you, it helps to hear that.” I fought back tears.
“The doctors don’t seem to have much hope.” He ran his hands over his tanned-face.
