Colorful

Autumn is a time of year when the warmth of my jacket and sweater makes me feel safe. I know that seems strange, but it’s just like being in bed everywhere I go for me. The baggy sweater makes me feel as if no one can criticize my appearance. And if I just want to be alone, I can pull up my hoodie and shut myself away from the rest of the world.

Autumn brings back a memory that I hold dear and cherish with all my heart. My father once took my sisters and me to Flushing Meadows Park for a picnic when we were kids. We lay down and glanced at the sky after finishing the food we had all cooked by hand. The area we were in was surrounded by trees, isolated from the public, and we only heard nature. The trees’ vivid colors made us feel that our problems for just a couple of minutes went away because of such beauty. The movement of the leaves soothed us to sleep, and when we awoke, we were wrapped in a rainbow quilt. I can’t help but think of that core memory whenever I see an autumn leaf. 

Matthew Enriquez

Holy Grail

I was walking with a girl across a snow-covered park, and she was holding my hand. I wasn’t even cold because her smile made my heartbeat twice as fast. She noticed my shoes were untied, so I tied them, and as I was heading down, I was shoved to the ground. I was overjoyed when she pushed me down because I got to hear her adorable laugh. Her snowball cannon of an arm pelted me. She then jumped on me and wrapped her arms around me, easing the pain in my ribs.

Matthew Enriquez

Hmm

I’m dealing with a challenging circumstance. I always make plans about it during the day, hoping that everything will come into place one day. I can’t stop thinking about my ambitions for hours at a time. There are so many variables, and so much is at risk. My life is dangling by a thread; either the wire will break, allowing me to swim to freedom, or the line will be drawn in, dooming everything. I’m hoping everything goes smoothly because it hasn’t happened in a long time.

Matthew Enriquez