Weather triggers secrets inside me. Every fall, the lighter air and crisp wind that cools the ground, pulls strings in my heart. I feel jovial and lovely, re-energized by vibrant colors. Yet, as the temperature drops further, so a string is pulled, and my mind releases memories that haunt and scar me over and over. It only takes one painful memory to spiral me through the lot.

Acknowledging one failure, for some reason, obligates me to visit them all. The other day, as I was walking from my car to my front door, a gust a wind nearly blew me over and several in succession as well. As I battled my balance, I was reminded of the strong gusts that escorted me to class in October of 2003. The month I failed at everything. And so I was deposited from my sidewalk, my purse over my shoulder, the cruel wind teasing and chilling me, to that day in October of 2003 where anxiety and stress scalped me...