A Coral Ribbon on Stone

Finding a thick nub of terracotta-colored chalk resting in the joint of the courtyard step, I knelt to test its dry, powdery weight between my hands. The smooth sandstone slab felt solid beneath my knees. Bracing my balance, I tilted my head and guided the blunt tip across the stone in one steady, continuous sweep. Chalk dust whispered beneath the pressure, leaving behind an undulating wave bordered by neat little crests, echoing the embroidery along my hem. Stepping back to inspect the crisp coral ribbon tracing the flagstone, I brushed a faint haze of pastel powder from my fingertips with quiet satisfaction.