Chapter 6
Over the next few days, weeks, and months, Mandark and Autumn grew closer, and closer. They kissed one another, they made out…..and they got to talking, and laughing over certain things that they had in common. They bonded really well. Mandark smiled a lot more, and took in so much more than he was expected. Usually, Mandark and Autumn gazed into one another's eyes, and kissed much more. Mandark respected Autumn's boundaries, and didn't have sex…at all. He knew she was Autistic….and mentally younger than anyone normally would be. She still had a piece of herself who was on the level of an innocent, well-behaved, pure, fragile 10 year old.
One evening, as Autumn sat in her bedroom, receiving her medicine, Mandark folded some clothes. "darling…I have something I'd like to propose….if indeed it is ok with you". Mandark said, gently with kindness. Autumn looked upwards at Mandark, nodding. "What is it?". Autumn asked.
"I was wondering if indeed today could be the day…..and we could shower together….the both of us….naked". "Would you wish to do it with me?". Mandark asked, in a soothing, gentle, kind, and softened whisper. Autumn nodded, as she looked upwards. "I guess I could….but I'm kind of scared". Autumn said. Mandark held a soothing, softened gaze as he held Autumn's hands.
"What's scaring you, honey?". "We won't do anything….we'll just kiss, that's all". "We'll hold hands, we'll talk, just as we always do….I know it's scary at first….but I promise I'll protect you…I won't allow anything to happen to you". "You know I love you….and I won't do anything to hurt you". Mandark whispered in a gentle, soothing, kind voice. Autumn nodded as she looked upwards at Mandark. "You won't hurt me?". Autumn asked. "Of course not, love". "I'll take care of you…we won't do anything that's dangerous". "I know you trust me". Mandark whispered, kindly with gentle, loving soothingness. "It's ok, honey….will you do it with me?". Mandark smiled a gentle, loving smile. Autumn hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Sure". Autumn replied, as she looked up at Mandark, while he kissed her on the lips. "I love you". Mandark whispered, gently with a soothing aspect. Autumn nodded, as she felt Mandark's fingers drum against her cheeks. Mandark pulled Autumn close, as he kissed her lips. She smiled, as she felt the gentleness, and the enigma of the kiss. He undressed her with his nimble fingers, while he kept kissing her. All the while, Autumn felt a barrage of nervousness and excitement. She felt the kisses, as Mandark nuzzled her.
They made their way to the bathroom, as Mandark undressed. Autumn glanced, as she saw Mandark….completely naked. All of him was showing. His nis showed, down below, his nipples showed, up above, he was a scrawny, nerdy man. Yet, he felt good in his nudity. He smiled, as he showed himself to Autumn. "Here it is, darling". "My gift to you". Mandark said, in a soothing, sultry, sexual, raspy, gentle register. Autumn nodded, as she kept her hesitance.
"You look wonderful too….and your breasts look healthy". "Do they feel healthy?". Mandark asked, in his soothing, sultry, sexual, raspy, gentle register. Autumn nodded. "They feel nice". Autumn replied. "I like my breasts….I think my breasts are nice….they kind of hurt before…but they feel better now".
Mandark smiled. "Soon, you'll get a mammogram on your breasts that will check for cancer". "That won't be until you're older….but it's still a necessity". Mandark said, soothingly with gentle kindness. "Maybe". Autumn replied. Mandark smiled, a kind, sappy smile as he turned on the hot water. "I need to get a prostate exam in the next few weeks". "They insert something near the testes, and examine it". "I'm not looking forward to that". "They gave me valium to take, so, I might need to ask my father to drive me home afterwards". "But it'll be nice….I have some ibuprofen to take, I'll take a hot bath, there's an aftercare procedure". Mandark said, gently with soothingness. "Mmm, It won't be pleasant, because they use a needle, and forceps to examine it". "But that's what the valium is used for". Mandark chuckled a bit.
"Ok". Autumn replied. "Mmm, I love you so much….you and I could take a bath together on the evening after my procedure….we'll just relax, you and I". Mandark chuckled gently with kindness. Autumn nodded, as she felt Mandark pull her close, kissing her on the lips. "You are the world to me, darling". "I love you, eternally". Mandark said, kindly with softened gentleness. "You are someone so beautiful….and so radiant". "Mmmmmm, yes". Mandark hummed in a soothing, kind, gentle manner. Autumn nodded, as she felt Mandark kiss her on the lips. Mandark smiled, as he gazed into Autumn's eyes. Autumn gazed into his eyes as they shared a kiss…..a long kiss, and a soothing, loving gaze. They kissed for over 12 minutes, taking breaths in between. Autumn wallowed in Mandark's soothing, gentle, loving touch….and his gentle scrubs. "Thank you". Autumn replied.
Mandark scrubbed Autumn's body, as he gently, and softly bathed Autumn. Autumn closed her eyes, as she wallowed in the gentleness, and the soothing essence of the scrub. Mandark smiled, as he and Autumn talked, bathing one another, as they kissed. They both kissed, as Autumn felt soothed, relaxed, and gentle in her bath. Mandark smiled a kind and gentle smile, as he wallowed in the kiss as well. Their shower, a hot, gentle, soothing, and loving essence. They were content….in their wallowing space. Mandark kissed Autumn's lips, gently and with effulgence. Autumn smiled as she felt Mandark's hand brush her face, in a soothing, gentle manner. "Yes, I love you so much…..darling". "I love you unconditionally". Mandark said, in a gentle, soothing, kind, and softened manner. "I love you too". Autumn replied. Mandark smiled, as he and Autumn gazed into one another's eyes….just staring for the longest time. Autumn felt the gentle brushes on her cheeks from Mandark's fingers. They just had a beautiful time….for the longest time, perhaps.
Mandark gave Autumn medicine in her arm, as he placed a bandage over her injection spot.
"There you are, darling". "All nice, and done". Mandark said, comfortingly with gentle soothingness. Mandark smiled as he snuck a kiss on Autumn's lips. "Thank you". Autumn replied, as she waited for her oral medication. "Yes, of course….darling….you're all nice". Mandark said, kindly with gentle, loving soothingness. "So….how did you enjoy the nice dinner we had?". "I was sure you would love spicy shrimp and Mexican rice". Mandark said, gently with a soothing, loving voice. "I thought it was lovely". Autumn replied. "I usually enjoy spicy shrimp and rice". "There's nothing quite like it". Autumn chuckled a bit.
Mandark smiled a gentle, soothing, nourishing smile. "Shrimp and rice is wonderful". "I thought you would enjoy it". "We usually enjoy our dinners when we go out". Mandark said, kindly with softened soothingness. "We love our shrimp, and our rice". "It is a beautiful thing….beautiful indeed". Mandark chuckled as he snuck a kiss from Autumn's lips. "So, tomorrow is my procedure". "Mmm, I have to go in at 10…take this valium 10 minutes before my procedure…mmmm, oh, shiz will it be daunting". "I have to get poked and prodded with a needle near my anal region". "That won't be enjoyable in the least". Mandark muttered, sticking his tongue out, as he grimaced.
"Well, at least I'm beside you after it". "You'll be my tush cushion". Mandark said, gently with kind, loving, and soothing romance. He chuckled a bit, getting into bed. "So….then, there's that". Mandark muttered, kindly. "Mmmm, honey….you look beautiful". "I simply love your new color your hair is turning". "It looks so beautiful". Mandark smiled, as he chuckled, kissing Autumn's lips. "Thank you". Autumn replied. Autumn looked away for a moment….as she drank her almond milk from her sippy cup.
"What's wrong, honey?". "You seem a bit pensive this evening". "I couldn't help but notice". Mandark said, kindly with a soothing, gentle voice. "No…nothing is wrong". "I'm ok". Autumn replied, as she drank more of her milk.
"Everything is ok?". "Nothing is wrong?". Mandark asked, kindly with a softened, soothing, gentle voice. "Nothing is wrong". Autumn said, while she drank from her cup.
"I'm a little bit concerned about you, lately". "It seems like no matter what happens, you aren't happy with anything". "We used to laugh, we used to talk, we used to play games, and see to it that we were content….but right now…..it seems like you're becoming more distant". "You are becoming more and more disappointed with things…..and it's making me a bit concerned….just a bit". Mandark whispered, kindly with gentle soothingness, as a bit of smoker's rasp remained in his voice. "I've also noticed….each and every time I tell you that I love you….you never say it back". "You haven't told me you loved me once". Mandark said, in a gentle, soothing, softened, kind whisper.
Autumn heaved a deep sigh, as she exhaled, rubbing her eyes. "I'm trying to make you understand…..and I'm trying to make you see it from the way I'm seeing it". "You have to understand…..I lost my parents….and I lost my husband…..if I don't say I love you, it's perhaps because…..I'm not ready yet". "I'm not ready yet to tell you I love you…..because right now…I think of you as my care nurse….and that's essentially what you started as….you're not my husband….and I don't know if you'll ever be". "I'm not getting married again…..I don't even really want to be in a relationship…..I'm….I'm just not sure right now…..and….I've been through a lot….I don't….I just don't know". Autumn replied.
Mandark nodded, as he rubbed his nose with his index finger. "I understand….you've been through a lot". "And you've endured a lot as well". "Somehow, what you've experienced is taking its toll on you". "I completely understand". "I know somehow when you were younger, you've endured a lot of trauma". "And….if you aren't ready to tell me you love me….I completely understand". "You need your alone time….you need some time to reflect, I understand, honey". "Do you sometimes miss your late husband, and your family?". Mandark asked, gently with soothing kindness. Autumn nodded.
"I sometimes miss my late husband….but I miss my family also". "I don't know….it sometimes feels like you're forcing too much on me…..and you're trying to make me feel guilty for feeling the way I feel". "I don't know…..I'm just not ready yet". Autumn said, as she sniffled. Mandark nodded a gentle, softened, and kind nod. "I understand". Mandark said, in a softened, gentle, soothing whisper. "I'll try to be more cautious, and more vigilant". Mandark brushed Autumn's cheeks, gently with a softened, kind, backhand. "However….and this is just something I've noticed….you aren't yourself lately". "You've been crying much more, you've been sleeping later, you've been saddened by certain things….very agitated….I'm not sure….and maybe I'm noticing something else…..however, you seem very depressed….in a much more depressive state than anyone, or anything I've seen". "I'm a bit concerned about you….as your companion, and as your friend". "I want to help you….but I'm not sure how…..and while I usually am well-versed in many things…..I don't have an answer on this one". "I can only take care of the basics, and be comforting….but you've been through a lot….and there's some wounds I just need help healing….no matter how hard I try". Mandark whispered, kindly with gentle soothingness. Mandark's voice was small, and comforting….gentle, and nurturing.
Autumn looked away for a moment. "You're doing a good job trying to understand….you're doing well….I don't know…..I really have no idea". "I don't know why I'm sad, either". Autumn said. Autumn drank from her sippy cup. "Hmmm, I might have an idea". "Perhaps….when all of the things you've been through….with your parents passing away….and your late husband…not to mention the early trauma of losing your birth mother at 3 days old….that was very traumatic….you've been traumatized so much in your young journey…..you've been through so much….and you haven't had time to formally heal….because each and every day, you've had to focus on your health". "It is very traumatic…what you've been through….and it is very sad…because you've endured so much….but I can guarantee that each and every stepping stone is a path to healing". "Everything will be ok….I can promise you….we'll work through it…in the best way we possibly can". "I'll try my best to find someone for you…that can provide you with all of the necessary tools, and conjugations we need to find answers". "I know someone….he's a very nice man, (Baboon) (no literally, he is one) that can help you". "I promise everything will be ok". "We'll help you feel better in no time". "I promise". Mandark whispered, kindly with gentleness…while kissing Autumn on the lips, then, kissing her forehead.
"What does he do?". "The baboon?". Autumn asked. "I.R. Baboon is a nice grief counselor, and psychiatrist who helps young widows who are orphaned". "Or who have a history of being orphaned in infancy". Mandark whispered, kindly with a soothing, softened whisper.
"Ok". Autumn replied, plainly, as she sniffled, drinking her almond milk. "He is also well-versed in international adoption and Autism". "He'll be able to help us through anything we're looking for". "He can offer us individual therapy, or dual therapy…..I might come in as well….and see what I could do to better myself…and better understand my best friend….and my love". Mandark whispered, in a gentle, soothing, kind, and loving whisper. "Because I feel it will be best if you heal….so you can be happy, and in good health". "Because in your endurance, if you're not happy, you won't have the strength". Mandark whispered, gently with a kind, soothing, loving whisper.
Autumn nodded, as she rubbed her eyes. "Ok". she replied, as she looked around. Mandark smiled a kind, gentle smile as he tickled Autumn's cheeks. "I love you so much….I love you very much". "My first priority is that you're happy and healthy". "You are a healthy baby…but I want you to be happy….and for your wounds to be healed". Mandark whispered, kindly with soothing gentleness. "You are an amazing young woman…..but I want you to feel happy and for your journey to be as easy, and accessible as possible". "Your happiness is my priority". Mandark smiled a gentle, wise, and loving smile.
