Featured Illustration: Lara Paulussen

Splatter of maroon across the canvas

Neighboring pine trees

Tickling lush green bushes

Light playfully resiles from the trees

Their silhouettes 

Conceived

In light autumn breeze

The cold is comforting

Matching our despondence

Instead of bright lights

Stretching lips 

Into smiles

That take precedence 

The hush of the streets

Leaves room for voices

The cold of nights

Leave room for warm

Embraces

The world

Stirred into

Fumes of hot chocolate

Enveloping marshmallows

We savour

With loved ones