mingling with the yellow leaves that had fallen to the road after last night’s rainstorm. I wrote my phone number in the notebook again and put it in the pocket of her bag. She tore that page apart too, throwing confetti to the wind. But I refused to learn and kept writing my number down and giving it to the girl. After eight tries, she finally gave in. “All right, I get it. Now just leave. You being here just saps my energy.” “Thank you. Whether it’s late or night or early in the morning, call me about the most trivial things if you want.” Adjusting her uniform skirt, the girl walked off quickly as if running. I, too, decided to return to my apartment for now. I went back to the car, stopped at the first restaurant I saw for breakfast, and drove safely home. Thinking about it, it had been a long time since I’d been out while the sun was. Crimson cosmos grew on the roadside, blowing in the wind. The blue sky under which the madder reds danced seemed much bluer than it was in my memory.