Calm smoothed over the landscape as quickly as the turbulent weather erupted. I perched on my grandmother’s bedroom window and watched the sun’s rays battle the clouds for dominance. As it strained to break through, I struggled against the feeling of my lungs closing up. The fresh, earthy smell of Gran’s backyard after the recent ...

An old man bent, stooped amidst the passing crowd as the summer day wore on, and the heat along with it. The park had a pleasant breeze rolling in from the north to stave off the sun’s blazing glare. He stared at a tall oak tree that took residence in the park’s nexus. Here, sidewalks ...