[ the chase of change ]

   She ran quickly, glancing behind her as if there were some way she could stay behind and remain as she was. But no. Her pursuer gazed after her with a bitter stare, the cold winds underlining the sentiment.

   Colors grew rebellious and violent as she ran, blazing to furious reds, burnt yellows -- all as if portraying her anger at being driven out. The trees could do little to fend off the change. Eventually though, they began dropping their garments, leaves slowly making their way to the ground. They gathered in little huddles, only disturbed by the occasional crackling death of a companion who happened to be in the way of a passerby.


   Still she ran, her pace growing faster with each step. The chill of the air followed close behind at her heels, nipping at them if she slowed down even the slightest.

   The warmth that she brought with her when she came disappeared as she did, leaving only a bitterness that saturated everything. Everything seemed to collectively shiver with one movement. The trees stood tall, protesting the bite in the wind. Even the ground shriveled up and hardened itself against the elements.

   Flowers gave one last desperate cry for mercy, then began dropping their beautifully colored gowns upon the earth and waited for their now frail bodies to wither up.

   The beating rain that came down upon her head filled her footsteps quickly with water. It created small rivers everywhere, as if the earth could not contain the sudden downfall. She kept passing people. People with their dark coats on and heads down, umbrellas facing the sky. They all walked with the purpose of getting to their destination as fast as possible and away from the cold wetness.

   And then it stopped. But still she ran. Her footstep suddenly became louder in the stillness of the crisp air. She kept glancing behind her with some hope, but her pursuer held the bitter stare.

   A dreary layer covered the landscape and the atmopshere became altogether rather gloomy. Even the animals kept to their warm homes instead of joyfully celebrating life. Fog swept in and stayed as a heavy layer that suffocated and dampened all it reached.

   One last time, she looked back. This time she locked eyes with the one chasing her, and realized it was just time for her to move on. Summer -- with all her warmth and rays of sunlight, her days of laughter and of memories, her happy flowers and long nights -- held her head high and gave one last look to the land. Then she looked back at Autumn, who still stared her down.

   With a smile and twinkle of the eye, Summer turned her glorious body around and walked away.

   In only a few months would she return, bringing back her sweetness of life. They couldn't hold her back for long..

   Summer.