A Crisp Snap

I slipped through the patio door, glad to be out in the open air after a quiet day indoors. Along the garden stones, several broad autumn leaves had gathered, dry and curled at the tips. I walked up to a large brown maple leaf that arched off the ground like a tiny bridge. Gathering my balance, I lifted one foot and pressed down firmly on its spine. A sharp, crisp crackle snapped beneath my sole as the brittle leaf flattened against the cold stone, scattering a few dry flakes around my toes. The quiet snap was deeply satisfying. I paused, taking in the morning stillness, before eyeing the next leaf ahead.