Janet stood on the rooftop of her apartment building, staring at the city skyline in the distance. The cool breeze brushed against her face, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. It was the end of summer, and the leaves were beginning to turn from green to golden yellow, signaling the arrival of fall. She had always loved this time of year—the crisp air, the colors, the sense of change. But this year was different.