Change in Seasons

It's that time of the year when the days grow short and the light fades:

Darkness seeps
from each crevice,
oozing and pooling
in the
depressions
of smooth surfaces
(stainless steel, formica, polished
concrete),
coagulates and coats
all
in sticky soft secretion.

With the darkness comes anxiety.
Another year passed and what have I done with my life?

Thanksgiving used to be a neutral sum game - positive, even. My annual hike with mom before the big meal - a calming, subtly reassuring ritual.

And that's still fine and good, but this year, this Thanksgiving, things have shifted.

M and I met 5 years ago, October.

We spent our first Thanksgiving together at mom's soon after, no expectations, no worries, just letting that day, like any other, unfold.

Relationship-wise, I didn't see it, long term. Just thought we'd have some interesting conversations for a while.

Well...

I guess we did, didn't we?