The Painful Distance

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, and hours into days. Without noticing, weeks and months passed and so did seasons.

As summer's embrace loosened its grip, a subtle transformation covered the landscape. The air, once heavy with the warmth of sun-kissed days, now carried a gentle chill, whispering promises of cooler nights ahead.

Leaves, adorned in shades of gold, crimson, and amber, began their graceful descent, painting the world in a kaleidoscope of fiery hues. The earth, once vibrant with the vitality of summer blooms, now prepared for a slumber beneath a quilt of fallen foliage.

A symphony of rustling leaves and the aroma of bonfires filled the crisp, autumnal air, welcoming the arrival of fall with a sense of nostalgia and renewal.

Since the morning after Emily's birthday when she and Shadow had a mental breakdown in her office, life had become silent for Emily. She and Shadow never discussed that matter again after that day.