Unearthing the Amber Pebble

A low slant of afternoon light caught something shiny deep under the corner of the shelf. I hit the floor, dropping into a low tactical crawl across the polished oak. Inches away from the dark baseboard, my glove touched an amber-colored resin pebble embedded with a tiny leaf pattern. It felt cold, dense, and remarkably like a miniature fossil. I braced my boots against the floor and slid the prize out into the open daylight. Ancient mystery cataloged.