Leaves
A leaf fell from a birch tree and swirled in the wind over the pavement. It seemed forlorn and lost, so I caught it and held it a while. It was a happy yellow, but beginning to fade to brown and as I took it in, it's bright tones and soft, living feel seemed a ephemeral thing. Knowing that in a few days it would be rotten and slimy, or a brown rattling husk, I was happy to have caught it in a moment of bright glory. It was the beautiful culmination of a spring and summer spent drinking warm sunshine and soothing rain. As a leaf, it could have no regrets and no fears and needed no comfort from me, so I dropped it on the ground and did not worry about it any longer.