Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager and all characters belong to Paramount.
Veracity
Autumn was a time when the beauty of summer began to die off only to be replaced by the harsh winter of reality. This concept had never been lost on Kathryn, nor ignored. She accepted the annual change as part of what must happen.
She had changed quite drastically over the past few months, a parallel to the changing foliage. Being home gave her the chance to see all that she had missed over the years. Her hair was once again long and brilliant, just as it was when she first left for the badlands. Her body was lean but her emotions were like the leaves scrapping across the pavement, scattered.
These days, she walked incredibly often. Through the park, in the city, everywhere and anywhere her feet took her. It seemed only fitting. When she was moving, she knew that she was a part of time and all that was engulfed by it. She could say that she hadn't faded into the dim.
Autumn leaves were what she so longed to see on each walk. They represented hope to her. They fell from the trees like a forgotten memory; a love burdened with pain enough to fall. Each was a dying goodbye but at the same time showed that even after losing all it ever had the tree could and would flourish again.
One day she would find a way to understand that leaving wasn't the worst thing he could have done to her. Maybe on even a farther off day, she would find that something righteous could come from so much heartache. She would be vibrant again and more confident than ever. She would love again and forgive... and even possibly find happiness again. One day.
But today all she knew was change. For the first time in her life, she was seeking nature to comfort her. She believed more in faith than fact. And in that instant she knew the gift he had given her. It was almost as if he was helping her deal with her grief and saying 'Even though I'm not next to you, I'll always be with you...in the wind.'
Suddenly a breeze began to blow violently and the branches overhead began to sway with the air currents; while her lingering hair was lifted to her face. A hand on her shoulder interrupted the silence of her thoughts.
"Kathryn, we better get going Mom is expecting us for dinner."
"I'll meet you at the house", Kathryn said in a whispered voice.
As Phoebe left, Kathryn pulled her jacket closer to her body, gave the leaves one last glance and walked away knowing she was a little stronger than before.