A Forgotten Bookmark

I noticed a weathered, cloth-bound atlas leaning precariously between two larger encyclopedias on the lower shelf. Walking over, I braced both paws against its faded spine and gently eased it forward so it wouldn't topple. As the volume slid outward, a slender pressed fern leaf slipped from between its pages and fluttered onto the floorboards. I crouched down to examine the fragile frond, observing the delicate herringbone pattern left behind by its veins. It was brittle yet entirely intact. Carefully pinching the stem between my paws, I tucked the green fern back into the chapter marking coastal waters, restoring the book to a perfectly upright position.