The cold autumn breeze blew across my face. My eyelashes flickered from the shock and I pulled the covers closer to my face. I wonder why it's so cold and promptly remember leaving the window open last night as I was enjoying the air. Slowly opening my eyes, I look around until I find the window. Outside I can see the orange and yellow leaves blowing in the wind. There's one brave leaf that has made its way inside to rest on my windowsill. I pull my legs out of bed, letting my feet hit the ground. Wiggling my toes in my fuzzy rug, I push up dragging the covers with me, pulling them behind me like a cape. I make my way over to the window and sit in the chair I had occupied the previous night. Staring at the leaf on the windowsill I take in a deep breath, letting the cold air pierce my lungs and throat. The feeling of cold air against my warm lungs is one of my favorite feelings. I love the contrast between the two temperatures. It makes me feel calm and at peace. I reach for the leaf, feeling it crinkle in my fingers. I stare at it for a second debating on if I should throw it back out the window and let it fly away. I decide against it and place it softly back on the sill.
Standing I head to the kitchen of my little studio apartment. I make some tea and cereal, too lazy to actually put effort into cooking. After it's ready, I carry them both back to the window, placing the tea down next to my new leaf friend and take a bite of my cereal. Looking out the window at the apartment building across the street. I take in its appearance of worn brick walls and old fashioned street lamps in front of it. I enjoyed architecture, and there was something about this street that was just so perfect and serene. It was always like that, but something about the fall months made it even better; my own little heavenly alcove. The leaves were flying around the air choosing different places to land and sometimes changing their minds, getting up again and flying to a new spot. Pumpkins set out precariously down the street not wanting to be too close to each other, preferring to be on their own than in packs; they really were fickle creatures sometimes. Garlands and autumnal wreaths wrapped around lamp posts and doors, welcoming people and asking them to come inside to the warmth. They all work harmoniously together to create a perfect atmosphere that would make anyone feel at home.
A door opens and a girl walks outside, hair immediately flirting with the wind creating a brown, wispy halo around her head. She closes the door with her glove-clad hands and shoves them in her wool coat pockets, though quickly removes them to adjust the scarf wrapped around her neck. It looks like she sneezes rattling her head back and forth to shake off the unwanted invaders in her nose. She walks down the steps, not having left the door yet. Her boots crunch the leaves that had made a place on the sidewalk. Burying her face into her scarf, she hugs herself to keep warm. I watch as she heads down the street but stops when she bumps into someone. Instead of watching where she was going, she chose to look at the leaves and cracks on the sidewalk, avoiding stepping on them as to not hurt their feelings. She looks up at the person and her shoulders shake from laughter. The person is smiling at her, cheeks apple red from being whipped by the chill, but eyes full of cozy warmth as they dance across her face. Both are relaxed taking in each other's existence, adding it to their surrounding environment putting even more character into the world around them than was previously there moments ago. Their addition added a playful comfort to the alcove, taking the serenity and turning it into a joyful scene ready for family and love. They give it back when they hug and continue on their ways alone. The world reverts to the heavenly, serene alcove creating a perfect backdrop to paint any picture on top of. I breathe in and sigh out the emotions of the world and stand taking me dirty dishes to the sink so they can create their own world.
