WP: Fall (Xander)

"The air feels different"

Derik spoke to himself as he stood outside. There was a slight chill to the air, leaving his breath hanging in the air for a few moments. He looked up at the trees that overhung the sidewalk above him. The leaves were vibrant, hues of orange and yellow graced the green like stars in the night. It was early enough in the season that no major change to the entire tree had become visible, but a few leaves here and there had begun changing.

Glancing back down to the sidewalk in front of him, he began walking. The way the leaves shook in the air, the way the dim gray sky cast out an equally dim light, everything felt... off. It had already been a few months since he had woken up, but Derik still felt so alien in this environment. Everything was off. He'd spent so long in Intera that he'd forgotten what it felt like to be in the real world. He turned the corner off his street and continued walking.

The nearly empty streets felt so quiet, the chatter he was so used to was replaced with only the sound of wind in the trees, and the clack of his shoes against the pavement. He continued marveling at the trees, and for a moment he felt a bit sad. How much of this had he missed? Not just the changing of the seasons, not just the time with his family, but what had happened in the world. Since he'd woken up, he'd been scared to look at newspapers, to see just how much the world had moved on without him. The passage of time was one thing, But what all had happened in twenty-three years. He glanced both ways before crossing the street.

With a casual pace, he found himself standing in a park. He'd been here before, but it looked much different. He paused, taking in the difference. The once green lot had been replaced with a full playground, with neon colored structures for children. He sat at a nearby bench, his head swimming. Staring ahead he looked at the playground. He remembered back to when he was much younger. He remembered sitting here, with someone he cared about, talking about children, and plans for the future. He remembered the days he had spent here with friends and family. He remembered the nights after college where he would do stupid things with long gone friends.

He looked down, attempting to pull his gaze from the park before him, only to find his eyes begin welling up. Etched into the bench between his legs was a aged carving. Time had clearly not been kind to this piece of graffiti, but it was still clear it had been done with terrible craftsmanship. Barely visible between the age and tears was a small etched heart, with "D+M" scratched into the center. He was here many years ago, with someone he cared about, someone he hadn't seen in a long time. They made plans here so very long ago. They planned to take their daughter here, how they wanted to have barbeques with the extended family here. Plans that never came.

Deric sat for a moment, holding back tears. He moved his eyes back up to the leaves that hung above the sidewalk, the bright leaves rustling in the wind. Sitting for a moment, he sighed. Time had moved on without him... and now it was his turn to catch up.

Pulling a cellular device out of his pocket, he began dialing a number. It was time he caught up with a few people.