The quiet fall vibes, leaves already dropped From the dining room window, I watch the kids cut across our yard into the neighbor’s. The morning air bites, crisp and sharp, as temperatures dip below zero. Each step disrupts the grey, sparkling shimmer of frost, leaving a trail of footprints behind. Days later, the prints still remain—a patchwork of dead grass marking their path. Boot tracks, bike tire lines, each one etching the shortcut into the yard. Their chatter drifts through the...