Dear Summer,
There is so much I want to say to you, but so little time is left. The first moment in June, when I saw your glowing essence shine through the dark grey clouds, my heart melted. The dreary days before you seemed never ending. I was engulfed by a sky that looked like a cotton ball used to remove smudged eyeliner from the face of a crying woman. My pasty legs longed for you to hug them with your warm touch and bring back the olive color deep within them. Thank you for the warm nights under the stars and the cool breezes that gently moved the salty hair out of my face.
Getting ready for you in the morning was simple; I would throw on a loose dress and flip-flops ready to go to the beach and listen to the waves crash or bring my laptop to a coffee shop where the blasting AC and coffee would keep me awake. By the end of our days together, I had lost the concept of date and time. You have the ability to take control of my mind and make everything better. Swimming at 1 a.m., staying up all night and spending the whole day outside, without a phone all become good ideas when you are around. Each moment was an adventure that was leading to the next adventure.
Although being with you is like a vacation, I still managed to be productive, work, read and write. However, I stopped checking my inbox religiously, as I did in school, so when I saw 27 emails, I knew I had to do the unavoidable and check them. Two professors had already emailed me about the eight books I had to get for the upcoming year and that’s when the anxiety took over my whole body. After that email, I went to the mall and the back-to-school signs were popping out of every store. This was how it ends, every time we are together. I took one last look at my tanned legs and white sandals because everything was about to change, back to the way they were before we met. On the way home, I noticed all of the trees full of green leaves and birds chirping, an abundance of life. Did they know you were going to leave in a few short weeks and take away all of that? Most people who meet you say they have no regrets and I can’t blame them because there really aren’t any regrets, except for hanging out too long with you at the pool and getting burned.
After a little chill time from you, I forgot all about it. I will miss everything you stand for, summer: Laziness, sunshine, relaxation and fun. When I am waiting for the El in negative degrees I will be thinking of you. When I am contemplating going to a party because it is so cold out, I will be thinking of you. Any time I am freezing and stressed out, I will remember the good times we had and the good times to come when we next meet.
Lots of love and sadness,
College Student in Chicago