A small piece written for Christopher Scott's challenge, 'Autumn'

The Last Leaf of Autumn

The last leaf of autumn
falls slowly.
It drifts down
and gently lies upon the cold ground.

Slowly
they climb up the hill.
The brisk air, the bright sun
Just like old times.

He expects an afternoon
Full of laughter
Full of love
The leaves floating gently down
All around them.

He reaches the top
Triumphant
He's on top of the world
With her at his side.
He turns
The world comes tumbling down
and drags her down with it.

He's all too familiar with it all,
the flurry of doctors
the forms to sign
the treatments to discuss
the tears to hold back.

She weakens
day by day.
Her face grows drawn and pinched
her hands ice cold.

The days grow shorter
the wind colder
the sun paler
the tree more bare
as the leaves are swept away.

There are more machines
more wires
more tubes
But then there's less of her.

Her memories are fading
Her eyes are distant
He spends many sleepless nights
Caring for her
Loving her
Hoping
Hoping in vain.

There's nothing he can do
but let nature take its course.

One floating blue balloon
and an adventure book later
the machines cry out
A sudden piercing wail.

The last leaf falls.

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