Bye! Summer! Hello Fall!

The last days of August were heavy with the kind of heat that seemed to slow the world down. The cicadas hummed lazily in the trees, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields. Amelia sat on the porch of her family’s farmhouse, watching the corn sway in the breeze, its golden stalks nearly ready for harvest. There was a certain melancholy in the air, as if the summer itself was reluctant to let go, clinging to its last moments.

Summer had always been a season of freedom for Amelia—long days spent exploring the woods, swimming in the creek, and lying in the tall grass with a book in hand. But as much as she cherished those endless days, there was something about the approaching autumn that filled her with a quiet excitement. It wasn’t just the relief from the oppressive heat or the promise of a new school year. It was something deeper, something that stirred in her heart every year as the air began to cool and the first leaves turned gold.

She could already feel it—the subtle shift in the wind, the way the evenings grew shorter, the way the light softened, taking on a golden hue that was unique to this time of year. Autumn was on its way, and with it came the promise of change.

Amelia’s mother stepped out onto the porch, her apron dusted with flour. “It’s almost time to start canning the peaches,” she said, her voice warm with a smile. “Why don’t you help me?”

Amelia nodded, rising from the porch swing. Canning was a family tradition, a way to preserve the sweetness of summer through the long, cold months. But this year, as she helped her mother peel and slice the fruit, she found herself looking forward to the days ahead rather than longing for the ones she was leaving behind.

That night, after the jars were sealed and set aside to cool, Amelia slipped outside to watch the stars. The air was cooler now, and she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the first hint of autumn’s chill. The sky was a deep indigo, dotted with the last fireflies of the season. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of earth and grass, and smiled to herself.

The next morning, Amelia woke to find the world cloaked in a thick mist. The sun struggled to break through, casting a soft, ethereal light across the landscape. It was the first fog of the season, and it filled her with a sense of wonder. She pulled on her boots and jacket, and set out to explore.

The fields were hushed, the usual sounds of summer muffled by the mist. The cornfields, so vibrant and golden the day before, were now ghostly and still. She walked along the dirt path that led to the woods, her footsteps soft on the damp earth. As she entered the forest, the trees loomed like shadows, their leaves just beginning to change.

She loved this transformation, the way the world seemed to shift and renew itself with each passing day. Soon, the forest would be ablaze with color, the air would be filled with the scent of wood smoke and pine, and the ground would crunch beneath her feet as she walked among the fallen leaves.

Amelia knew that soon there would be apple picking and pumpkin carving, bonfires and hayrides. There would be cozy evenings spent indoors, wrapped in blankets with a good book or a cup of cider. And there would be the first frost, a delicate layer of ice that would glitter in the early morning light, signaling the true arrival of autumn.

As she stood in the misty woods, Amelia felt a deep sense of peace. Summer had been wonderful, as it always was, but she was ready to welcome the new season. She was ready for the change, for the crisp air and the colors, for the warmth of sweaters and the scent of cinnamon.

With a final glance at the mist-shrouded trees, she turned back toward home, her heart light with the anticipation of all that autumn would bring.