Winter's Lament: Winter's Lament, #1

By Autumn Rivers

Josh Dragol is your average senior in high school. Well, he's the most average in his friend group, at least. Although he suffers from his own social anxiety, Josh is also friends with an autistic man named Jack Korus, and a lady with ADHD and depression named Faithe Pond. All of them are great friends, they understand each other and the hardships they go through.

 

One day, Josh finds himself in the middle of a snowstorm in the middle of nowhere. While wandering around aimlessly, he bumps into a woman named Isabelle Latem; or as she prefers to be called, Isa. It's love at first sight for him, and his world around him changes forever.

 

Now, Josh must balance his love life, his friendships, and his own troubles. And as he discovers more about himself and the world around him, that only gets harder as time goes on. Winter's Lament follows the story of Josh Dragol and Isa Latem, as they both go through struggles they've never faced before in their lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Autumn Rivers
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201774370

Autumn Rivers

Autumn Rivers is a transgender female currently living in the state of New York. She started out her writing hobby in 2012 with creating fanfictions and random short stories. As time went on, she developed her writing style and eventually made her first original novel with original characters, "Winter's Lament". When Autumn isn't writing, you can usually find her listening to music, talking to friends, or programming. In addition to creating stories, Autumn also creates custom campaigns and levels for games often.

Book preview

Chapter 1

We Met in December

Maybe it was just me, or maybe it was something in the air. All I know is I found myself walking through the snow on one of the coldest days of the year. I wasn’t sure where I was, not even a clue. My phone sat in my pocket, and I could’ve taken it out to check the map, but my hands were too cold for me to separate them. Bringing gloves might’ve been a good idea in hindsight, but I wasn’t exactly thinking straight when I walked outside. In that moment, I just wanted to get home safe.

In an attempt to slow down the overwhelming freezing temperature coursing throughout my body, I rubbed my hands together as much as I could, even blew into them. I should’ve known that wasn’t going to help much. It’s never helped, not even in the movies. It was quiet outside, since everyone was in their houses, with their electric heat on most likely. I, of course, was outside, wandering aimlessly. I took in the white scenery all around me. The snowflakes that fell from the sky created a vertical blanket falling from the sky. All I could hear was the crunch of the snow beneath my boots and the whistling wind that danced through the trees as it flew by.

I sighed to myself as I continued my walk. Even though I was lost, that wouldn’t stop me from trying to find my way back home, even if I didn’t want to go back home. It was the only place I had heat, after all. The air was so cold, I expected to see my breath as I exhaled. Yet, the thick layer of falling snow was forcing itself to be shown as it covered my vision. Great, I said to myself. Now I can’t see, either.

This entire journey had just been one mistake after the other for me, despite only being outside for a few hours. Well, I think it was a few hours. I never knew, didn’t pay attention to the time. You don’t really pay attention to things when you’re out in blood-freezing temperature like I was.

Well, I did have my own reasons for being outside. But I won’t get into it. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my home problems. Who does? Well, I guess I can’t really say that. For the few friends I have, at least they’d listen to all the shit I complain about. Even now, I don’t understand how or why they put up with it. As my thoughts continued to flurry through my mind, a sudden, nasty cough had sprung. I wanted to sigh to myself, but I didn’t even have the strength to do it. My body was doing everything it could to keep me warm so I wouldn’t perish of hypothermia. I think. I don’t know, I’m definitely no anatomy or science expert. But it sounds about right.

However, no matter how hard my body was working, it didn’t seem to be cooperating with my mind well, or at all for that matter. My thoughts continued to flurry inside my head while my body was feeling heavier and heavier by the second. I decided the only way I’d get through this is if I could find shelter, any kind of shelter. I started a run, if you could even consider it that. It was more of a speed walk, but point is, I was going as fast as my body would let me. Each step taken producing a short, sharp breath. Each step taken taking more and more of my energy away. And then, out of nowhere, it stopped. I hit something and fell backwards.

Ouch, I said. After realizing that what I had hit had been a person and not a streetlamp or such, my fight or flight response instantly kicked in. Is this person going to be angry with me? Are they going to fight? Should I run? Should I stay? I don’t have the energy to run really... As that continued, the person got up, and replied with a short Ah, sorry.

Their voice sounded feminine. But most importantly, it didn’t sound malicious. Good, so they won’t try to kill me... probably. Don’t worry, it’s fine, I replied in a hushed whisper. Though I doubt she heard me over the windstorm. She did, however, reach out her hand to me. I’m Isa, by the way. Isa Latem, she said with a smile. Something about her was so... mesmerizing. Her vanilla white hair matched almost perfectly with the sky, which was covered by the ginormous blanket of clouds that were to thank for the snow all around me. The skin on her face seemed flawless, with no zits or anything of the like. Her ocean blue eyes contrasted with the rest of the world at that exact moment. Without realization, I was just sitting there, in awe.

Then she put her hand down, and let it fall to her side. Not much for handshakes, huh? She giggled. There was an acrylic figure attached to what I could only assume was a key chain on her black winter jacket. It seemed like the jacket was helping her keep warm, though I couldn’t say the same about mine.

She stared at me for a bit with a look on her face like she was trying to figure out something. You don’t live around here, do you? She asked suddenly. Honestly, I don’t even know where I’ve ended up. No, maybe, I don’t know, I replied in a defeated tone. Truth is, I got lost and have no idea where I am. I don’t even know if I’m in my own neighborhood anymore. If anything was for certain, it was that I was outside for at least half an hour. My neighborhood isn’t a large one.

Isa went back to her look like she was thinking of something. Then she clasped her hands together, and said with a bright smile, I’ve got an idea! You could come over to my place until this storm dies down! That actually didn’t sound too bad. It was shelter, and she must live around here, so her house isn’t too far away.

Alright, I replied with a smile. Sounds good to me.

Great! So, it’s decided! She said cheerfully, grabbing my hand.

Wait–! I said, but couldn’t get the rest of it out, as she was already on a run. At first, I asked myself how she could run so fast in a snowstorm. Then I figured, well, she must know where she’s going. Yeah, that must be it. She looked back at me, then said, Don’t worry, I know this town like the back of my hand! I shot up. How did she know I was thinking of that? How... did you...? I asked. She then looked at me with a soft smile. I’m really good at reading faces.

In a small moment, we had arrived at what I could only assume was Isa’s house. It seemed like a pretty big house. Well, bigger compared to the other houses that were built around this area of the village.

The house seemed newly built, even though I knew it wasn’t. The bricks that make up the walls of the house were painted white on the outside, with faux gold that bordered the clear windows of the living room and bedrooms. The house was about three stories high, counting the attic. The width of the house was really nothing to think about, though. Just slightly wider than other houses in the area. Either way, it seemed definitely seemed like a family of three lived there. And that was just the front of the house.

We entered the house, and it seemed really quiet. It’s quiet here, I told Isa. She replied back, Yeah, it’s usually just me home. Parents are always busy. That was the first time I realized that my family and Isa’s family were alike, except her family was a lot more... well, a lot nicer.

Her living room also seemed to be quite roomy. There was a sofa in the middle of the room with two chairs facing it at a diagonal angle. All of this with a glass coffee table in the dead center of the room. At that moment, all that was on there was a vase of roses in water. All of this was on a square carpet with a unique design on it. As for the rest of the room, it seemed pretty normal. Still, I was taken aback by it.

I’m gonna go make us something to drink, she said. I’ll be back in a sec. While you wait, make yourself at home.

I still wasn’t fully sure if I should trust her. I mean, a stranger inviting me into their house? I let out a breath, and decided that the only thing I could do was trust her.. I couldn’t exactly just go back out in that storm. I took a seat on the middle of the sofa and took in everything in the room.

The room’s wallpaper was probably the only plain part of it. Everything else seemed to like showing off its colors. From the coffee table to the old-fashioned fireplace on the wall opposite of the entrance, this living room was probably the coziest place I had been in a while. Even the incandescent bulb shining from the ceiling from a bowl-shaped cover gave the room a special atmosphere.

I remember hearing the winds of an enraged winter outside. With every strong gust, I feared that a tree might fall, and we would lose power, or worse. However, my fears quickly subsided when Isa came back in the room. There was something about her. Just being around her calmed me down. Then again, being around any of my friends calmed me down.

Here, she said, handing me a cup. It seemed to be hot chocolate. I blew a bit on it first to cool it down, then took a sip. Even to this day, it was probably the best cup of hot chocolate I’ve ever had.

Isa took a sip, then looked towards the window. Doesn’t seem like it’s dying down, huh?

Nope. I replied.

Well, that’s fine. I’m sure it’ll be gone by morning.

Hearing that reminded me that I still didn’t know what time it was. My eyes made way to the clock above the entrance. It was already near 10PM. Isa followed my gaze. It’s getting late, isn’t it?

Yeah.

Don’t fret, she said with a smile. We have a guest room here. And considering we’re both in the village, I’m sure we go to the same school.

Winter Lakes High?

Yes! Lakes High! She said, cheerfully. Then she returned to her previous calm tone. Anyway, since we go to the same school, getting there on time shouldn’t be a problem.

Ah, but what about clothes?

You can borrow some of my brother’s. You seem about his size, and he’s never around anyway.

That single offer gave me another window into Isa’s family life. I was learning more and more about this girl, and I had only spent about 10 minutes with her. But that was fine. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt alright.

Like everything was going to be just fine.

Chapter 2

Snow’s Reign

As I get off the bus with the rest of the crowd, a familiar voice appears next to me. So, I hear. I need your opinion on something.

I turn my head to the source of the voice, and sure enough, it’s Jack. Jack Korus is my childhood friend, we practically grew up together. We’ve gone to the same schools, watched the same movies, played the same games, etc. We know each other better than anyone else. Oh? I ask. "Asking for my advice on something? Can’t say I expected that from you."

Jack lets out a chuckle. Another thing about Jack; he knows a lot. That’s not me being a know-it-all, either. He really is one of the smartest people I know. Him asking me for advice about something, anything, is out of the ordinary. It’s usually the other way around.

Seriously, though, Jack gave me a straight poker face. I need your opinion on this.

Okay?

How can I stay calm during a performance? I’ve got a presentation to give tomorrow and I’m honestly kind of frightened to go up there.

Jack, you’re asking the wrong person. You still see me get my anxiety attacks, right?

He sighed. Yeah, but I figured since you’ve got anxiety, you might’ve found some way to cope with fear.

I do, I started. it wouldn’t work for your case, though.

I’ll take what I can get.

Music. I said, plainly. Music calms me down.

Before he could explain the obvious reason why music wouldn’t be able to help on stage, a voice sounded behind us, You two are early. For once. That monotonous voice is synonymous with that of Faithe Pond’s. We turned to face her.

Faith was my first crush, but I never told her. And after a while, my feelings for her dissipated anyway. I remember the day we met clearly, even now. We were both in art class at Audrie Middle, and she was painting a river. I was drawing a dreamland of sorts. I probably still have that paper lying around somewhere, but I’ve no clue as to where it could’ve gone. She was mixing green and blue to create an aquatic kind of greenish blue. She had talent. I complimented her art, and she thanked me. We started talking about different types of art we’d seen, and we became friends.

Back then, she was more expressive. When she came to Winter Lakes, she seemed to have lost that. Something in her changed over the summer, but I was never sure of what. Gossip spread around the school pretty quickly, but that kinda happens for all of us.

And by us, I mean us, in the special ed classes.

When you’re pretty much forced to hang out with the same group of people every day, you become less like friends and more like family. That being said, none of us are good at sticking up for each other. When I first came to Winter Lakes, my social anxiety went through the roof. I was really quiet and had my headphones in a