Title: The Last Leaf
In the heart of autumn, Emily sat by her window, her gaze fixed on the dying oak in the yard. Each day, she watched the leaves surrender to the wind, a whirl of gold, amber, and rust. But one stubborn leaf clung on, a bold splash of green against the muted backdrop.
“You’re a warrior,” she whispered, sipping her lukewarm tea. Days turned into weeks, and as the temperatures dropped and the frost painted the grass, the leaf remained, swaying gently.
Her sister, Mia, came by every Sunday, bringing laughter and stories that filled the small house with warmth. “You should let go,” Mia said, noticing Emily’s fixation. “It’s just a leaf.”
“Is it?” Emily countered, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “It means something to me.”
They laughed and carried on, but Emily's thoughts drifted back to the leaf. It reminded her of her own struggle—trapped in a life that felt like a constant tumble.
Then came the day the last leaf fell. In the early dawn, a gust of wind sent it fluttering to the ground, and Emily felt an unexpected weight lift from her heart. It was over, yet it also felt like a beginning.
On her way to the garden, she stopped and picked up the leaf, now limp and crumpled in her palm. “Thank you for teaching me to let go,” she murmured.
With a newfound resolve, she turned back toward the house, ready to face the winter ahead, one brave step at a time.
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