The deck keeps the day's warmth after the sun goes. I come out barefoot and the wood is still warm under my feet, still holding the afternoon like a secret. Three leaves fell here from the maple overhead. Two big ones, orange and gold, and one small yellow one lying apart, like it took its own road down. The planks are old, gray-silver, with a nail head rusted near the corner and grain lines deep enough to hide a seed. Above, the sky has gone that deep blue that only shows up when the last light is gone. No stars yet. Just the dark arriving, polite and slow. The leaves will be crisp by morning. Tonight they're still soft, still holding the shape of the branch. I sit down against the wall and let the quiet come all the way in. The house is dark behind me. Nobody else is up. Somewhere a cricket starts, then thinks better of it. The whole yard is one held breath, and I'm breathing with it. October ends like this, quietly, one leaf at a time. I don't mind. #octobernight #decklight #quiet
