The Falling Light

“Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end.”

Remy de Gourmont

It happens every October.

Alone with my thoughts, I gaze out the living room window. Beginning in the late afternoon, the sun slowly sinks below the horizon. At first, the light rays are sharp and intense, resembling the reflections of a diamond in the sun. They beam through the trees and the textured bark appears to be etched in stone. I squint my eyes and wait for the rigid inhale of air. My body braces for the wave of melancholy to hit. Memories of past, present and future flood my mind. Emotions swirling, there is a cacophony of deafening noise in the silent room.

Time passes unnoticed until the light softens. Relaxing, I gradually open my eyes wider and exhale. The light is friendlier now, bathing the room in a cozy glow. The tree bark changes to a soft brown suede, wrapping present time in a warm blanket. The shadows dim the earlier brightness, creating a sense of safety and comfort.

Soon, the time will change and this bittersweet falling light will shift to darkness earlier. These poignant sunsets will be gone, only to return again next year.

It happens every October.