The Ghost of Autumn Past

Today could have been autumn and I was reminded of a little girl in a brand new red jacket. Pausing at the top of the public stairs she felt sunshine fill her nose until the urge to sneeze was too much. Achoo! The crisp air rushing into her mouth in the wake of the controlled explosion tasted sharp and tinny - like a key chain she used to suck on as a child, only better. Green that would soon be turning to red and gold rustled in the breeze, a last reminder of summer past, and she stepped forward - out of the moment and into the rest of her life.