I Knew

I guess I knew once I woke up and my throat was cold and desert-dry from the determined draft seeping in from the cracked open window. I knew when the blankets were finally just warm enough, holding me captive in comfort, and not frantically cast off to alleviate the suddenly stifling straight-jacket feeling. I definitely knew once I started craving my first cup of Earl Grey tea before leaving for work, longingly glancing at my favorite mug, instead of being content to wait till I trudged to the office’s always-slightly-grimy kitchen. In fact, what made me absolutely certain that Autumn had arrived was when I hitched my left sweater sleeve on, then my right, pulled it over my shaggy, unruly hair (now newly full of static), and caught the merest whiff of last year’s last leaves.