It was Tuesday when I awoke, a cool 73 degrees.

It did not feel like summer.. only a temporary cold that stung when every other day has been arid as the desert.

The leaves showed the tiniest difference in color, a bit more yellow, scattered orange in a forest of vibrant green. And the smell of the bark was not as pleasant as it once was

When I grazed my hand on the black driveway while playing with my dear brother, my hand did not burn but instead it got scratched.

The water in the pond was just a bit colder, and the tides of the water were still. There was no breeze or moving force that usually created such intricate ripples.

It was beauty that had faded.

No one else really noticed it but I did. The sky was perfectly free of clouds but still the sun did not shine just as bright.

Smiles of the people on the sidewalk had gone, replaced by a stern expression that meant business. No one walked, it was now speed walking.

I touched the wrinkles on my hands, circled the ridges ingrained within my fingertips,

I felt the brown hairs on my arms and legs, how light they felt to the touch.

I gently poked my face and circled my eyes, breathing deeply for no reason other than chasing a feeling.

I remembered I had a routine and continued what little work needed to be done until day’s end.

Why did I feel today wasn’t real?

The next day, it was hot as ever, a burning 88 degrees, perfect for the pool. The smiles returned, and the brightness of the sun, and smell of the trees. I could not spot a single leaf of yellow or orange.

Then, I moved on with my day and forgot about my eyes, my skin, my hair and my face.

Like nothing ever happened.

Maybe nothing did happen, and I am overreacting.