Moments of silence: a cunning adversary

     Today smells like Autumn. The heat of the summer has been steadily declining...long days yielding to longer nights. Today, though, is the first day that smells of Autumn. A thick, dry aroma; smoky plumes bubble into the night. Somewhere...summer is burning.
    I don't sleep as long anymore. Swaddled in bed stuffs, I enjoy the brisk chill of Autumn twilight against my face. I lay there; I melt into the night with a single prayer on my lips...her name and nothing else. She comes to me now and then -- those warm hands caressing my chilled face...the warmth of her kiss warms more than my lips...I am in such awe to realize the bitter cold I've become accustomed to; when she touches me I am warm. Suddenly I breath deep; my hands search the adjacent space in vain -- 'twas a dream and I'm cold again. More cold than before. I feel the heat of her touch still evaporating from my cheek; I reach to hold it there -- To save the last bit of her from leaving me...but it slips away -- stolen by the Autumn night...