This article is published as part of the Stork's Creative Section, a new category dedicated to sharing poetry, short stories, and other creative pieces. Showcase your creativity today by submitting your work through the Stork's Guest Writer link.By Paula Alvestegui
as the wind whistles and the leaves dance to its tune, it seems people have distanced themselves from me once again. they leave me searching for the warmth found in their homes. so, I am left alone to admire the once-green leaves as they fall to the ground, covering it in ginger trails while the skies warn of another cold night. with nothing to do, I wander through town on my own, taking in the strong scent of freshly baked pumpkin pies and the muted sounds of laughter and conversation emanating from homes. waiting for an invitation, I remain a silent observer of what unfolds inside
not long ago, my sister came to town and experienced the opposite. people fawned over her, traveling from all over the world just to see her. from morning to night, she was never alone. they welcomed her and left when she did. others disappeared as soon as they sensed my arrival. Students, on the other hand, reluctantly acknowledge my presence, returning each year to greet me once more. my days are often filled with encounters with them. they tolerate my company on late, cold nights, dismissing my chill as merely a “state of mind” until, inevitably, many of them fall ill by mid-semester
ever since my sister left, the gentle transition from a bright blue sky to hues of pink and orange has come earlier, marking shorter days. i observe as an outsider – watching people head to work, run quick errands, and listening to students curse my presence as they head to class in the cold mornings
and yet, my existence brings about a sense of comfort, warmth, and change. for instance, there is a special occasion when I get to welcome the relatives and close friends of the town’s families. they gather to express gratitude and spend quality time together. homes are carefully splashed with colors of vibrant red, yellow, and orange, and dining tables overflow with food prepared long before the day began. all of it done for their loved ones. oh, how I have longed to be like them, to be invited in!
amidst one of these heartwarming gatherings, a little girl caught my attention. she wore a cozy, colorful coat, woolly socks, and a beanie that occasionally slipped over her eyes. she reminded me of myself with her flamboyant ginger hair mirroring the color of the leaves I bring, her transition from
middle school to high school resembling my own shift from my sister, Summer, to me. even the subtle scent of pumpkin spice that clung to her felt familiar. she observed her surroundings in quiet joy, needing no reassurance that she was wanted or loved. it was simply felt.
oh! and we shared the same name:
Autumn
