Bittersweet Beauty

^@wakeupkitty

"It's almost winter, again!" She gasped and leaned lazily on the wooden window frame, her gaze fixed on the ripples that were created from each drop of rainwater into the puddle.

"It's going to be alright, Mom. He's happy wherever he is, and you should be too," Autumn said as she joined her mother by the window. "See how pretty those leaves are?" She said and stole a quick glance at her mom trying to cheer her up but noticed her eyes were moistened with tears.

"I miss him too, you know. But, I believe we'll meet him someday again." Her words seemed not to get through to her mother, who was lost in her own thoughts.

It's been years since Autumn lost her father. And the end of the fall season marked his memorial. "It's going to be fine," Autumn whispered, tapping on her mom's shoulder as she tried to comfort her. Their eyes both fixated on the ripples and the colorful leaves in the puddle.

"He was such a good man," Julie sobbed and tilted her head so that the tear in her eye dropped into the puddle of water and created a small ripple. "Mom, you're hurting me," she said and looked away for a second. Autumn was battling, controlling her emotions and consoling her mother.

"Can you just be happy? See how beautiful the leaves are even when they're fallen and withered? Don't you think the universe is sending a message? You have me, Mom," she paused for a while to catch her breath, then looked up at her mother and said, "you need to heal; this house gets extremely gloomy every fall season, and I'm beginning to not find it funny." Julie could hear her footsteps as she ascended the stairs, and then she broke down and wept uncontrollably.

Autumn was ten when her father died of a disease for which the doctors had no name. It's been eight years gone, but every time it's autumn, when Autumn is supposed to be basking in the season she was named after, she spends it being gloomy and reminiscing about old times.

The fall season was her dad's favorite, and he died in the same season just as it was about to pass away to welcome in winter, which is why her mom, after the death of her dad, hated the season. She felt it was inappropriate for him to die in a season he loved so much.

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Her daughter, Autumn, was just as beautiful as the season. She was subtle, yet dramatic, born with golden hair and a vibrant skin tone. She was the perfect embodiment of the fall season, and she loved it just as much as her dad did.

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"Autumn? Can you please come downstairs?" Julie pleaded, knowing her daughter was upset and wanted nothing but during her favorite season. It was pleasing when she heard the door creak open. With slow steps, she descended the stairs and was thrilled to see the colors that were now placed in the living room. The gloomy colors were gone, and vibrant paintings of autumn leaves which her father painted in his lifetime hung in different corners of the room.

Autumn smiled as she ran into her mother's embrace. "I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this," Julie sobbed as she stroked her daughter's silky hair gently. Autumn pressed hard on her, showing how much she appreciated her mother's willingness to finally embrace the bittersweet beauty of letting go.

"Can we do something fun to celebrate this moment?" Julie asked, and Autumn nodded. Her face flushed in excitement. "Let's paint," Julie said, and a sharp intake of breath escaped Autumn's lips and she scurried to get the paint brushes and boards.

When she was back, she looked outside the window again for a while. "How about we paint exactly what we see out here?" Julie inched forward and took a peek at the beautiful autumn leaves in the puddle. "Right!" She exclaimed, and the two set to work as they painted something magical in honor of their beloved.

What I see

I see leaves whispering secrets of change as they lie with so much beauty in the puddle.

What I feel

The magic of transformation and the bittersweet beauty of letting go.