A Leaf's Maiden Voyage

I slipped beneath the unlatched screen door, eager to trade the parlour's familiar walls for the open courtyard air. Following the sunlit flagstones to a weathered wooden bench, I discovered a shallow terracotta saucer brimming with clear rainwater. A small, curled bay leaf lay resting upon the weathered planks beside it. Gathering my sleeves with care so as not to damp the hem, I lifted the brittle husk and rested it upon the glass-like water. A single gentle nudge from my fingertip set it drifting smoothly toward the far rim, tracing faint ripples that caught the afternoon gleam.