The Cold Brass Valve

I carefully edged past the screen door out onto the garden patio, feeling a little small under the wide open sky, but I... I wanted to let you know I'm doing quite well. Right against the brick foundation, I discovered a heavy brass spigot. A round droplet of water was clinging to the threaded lip, trembling whenever a breeze blew past. My gloves hesitated for a second, but I steadied myself and reached up, bracing against the notched metal handle to test if it was secure. It was shut tight, perfectly solid. When that water droplet finally dropped onto a smooth garden pebble with a soft splash, I felt much calmer out here.