1 of 11
How young you once were, how carefree. You fell backwards into the leaves raked neatly by your still-young father. You remember the smell as you buried yourself deep within the pile, your return to the womb.
2 of 11
The leaves fell as you sat by the fire pit outside your grandmother's home. She could still walk then, before age and nature robbed her of her independence. Why, she was only as old as your parents are today. The taste of chocolate and marshmallow went so well with the smells of firewood and foliage, but as you sat, winter began to creep into your soul.
3 of 11
She made you nervous as you sat in school side-by-side tracing hands to be made into turkeys. Desire and fear mingled inside your small chest like your brown and orange crayons on construction paper. What did you desire and why were you afraid? Your heart and mind feasted on turkey then, but when winter came to your soul, the Pilgrims slaughtered the Indians again and again.
4 of 11
Do you remember hiking these hills with your first love? "Race you to the top!" she said. You ran after her, hopelessly in love. Catch her, kiss her, spin her! The cool autumn air barely tempered the fire within — a fire soon extinguished by the cold to come.
5 of 11
Here, one last dip in the lake before summer's end, one last fuck-you to daily drudgery and responsibility. Have another cold beer, the water will only get colder. Jump in head first, these days are numbered.
6 of 11
Your first fall in the city and you met a girl so fast, you spun like a top. Walking hand in hand in the park, you held her gloved hand in yours as the leaves swirled around you. Explode and implode — the last fiery red leaf fell soon after, leaving the trees bare to the howling winds.
7 of 11
"This one's special," you thought, picking the apple off the tree in an orchard in the countryside. She looked at you and smiled, and at that moment you believed in miracles and eternal autumn. She locked her arm in yours as you strolled down orchard lanes, dreaming of the hot cider and comfy sweaters to come.
8 of 11
She closed her eyes and sighed, her last expression to you and the world. A whimper that was not enough, but one that said it all. You sat and stared out the hospital room window and counted the hundreds of lives passing on the tree-lined street below. For the first time, you wished you could be them, and so — just another fall day.
9 of 11
Today you feel festive and buy a pumpkin spice latte to pour your whiskey into. You go to your favorite park bench and sit and drink and stare. You watch the leaves fall down, one by one, until none remain on the now bare trees. The dead leaves crunch under the feet of inattentive businessmen and women who hurry by. You stare up at the steel grey clouds and watch as the first snowflake of winter lands upon your cheek and disappears.
