Turning the Crystal

A splash of violet and gold caught my eye across the polished top of the oak desk. Following the beam back to its source, I found a heavy, faceted glass paperweight resting in a warm rectangle of afternoon light. I sat down beside it, leaning in close to study the crisp, beveled edges. When I placed both paws against the cool glass and gave it a slow, deliberate twist, the scattered colors slid across the wood grain, stretching and sharpening. I kept nudging it inch by inch until a neat, vibrant band of rainbow settled squarely across the empty blotter.