The Summer is Over, repeated

“The summer is over.”

I repeat it back to her slowly, haltingly, as if taking longer to say the words will give them more time to sink in. It doesn’t quite work, but she seems to realize that, taking the coat resting over her shoulders and draping it over mine. More than the comforting weight, it’s the warmth that helps her message sink in. Despite the way that Caroline had been using it as little more than an accessory, the coat is heavily insulating, and I can feel her residual body heat clinging to the soft lining. But instead of nearly boiling, the warmth that the coat brings is comforting, and as I stand there longer I can feel myself returning to the moment. The summer is over, so now coats should be worn because they bring warmth. I had nearly forgotten, so used to only seeing Caroline wearing one, as she insisted on wearing it over a tank top, for reasons that she refused to articulate.

I raise my arms slowly, careful to not let the coat slip off, and rest my hands on Caroline’s bare shoulders. She leans forward, forehead barely brushing mine, and for some time we simply stand there.

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