Paul had always done well with transitions. When his parents divorced, they were both concerned about how it would affect his behavior. They had as many worries about him as their discord ridden and distracted hearts could muster.
“You know Daddy still loves you, even though he’s not here during the week, right son?”
“Right Dad. I understand.”
Paul took things in stride. Even a quarter century later, when his own wife left him for the convenience store clerk who got her coffee everyday, he adjusted. His daughter tried to.
“It’ll be okay honey.” He comforted her when he could and then went home to his apartment. He was as good a parent as could be, for her sake. The change didn’t bother him though. It was expected. It was just the nature of things.
He shaved his head the year his mother died. He bought new clothes. He was mercury. You can’t crush someone so liquid. He lived for spring and summer, those wild seasons where the days felt as random as his soul. His daughter got older, drop by drop. She moved to Arizona. She left on a rainy Friday in April. Told him she wanted the sun everyday. Wanted something concrete. Paul couldn’t even understand what she meant by that. He just told her he loved her and let her go.
Today, the wind kicks fall leaves around like a group of invisible children. Paul stands on the street, letting them run around his legs, looking out over a vacant lot with a trailer in the center. Dozens of pumpkins surround it. Scarecrows lean against it. He likes the jack-o-lanterns a lot. Wonders what face he’ll put on his this year. He should do something special, now that they’re all gone.
He looked into the orange sunset, feeling the warm on his face in the still moments between the crisp gusts. He wants…
He wants to change even more.
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This bit of art is from a guy named Liam W on Deviant Art. He hasn't got a ton posted, and seems to be on a University inspired hiatus, but still, what he's got is very cool! http://eluu.deviantart.com/
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