A Spiraled Cedar Bloom

A curled ribbon of cedar shaving was resting quietly beside the small metal pencil sharpener on the desk. It looked just like a delicate, pleated flower carved out of wood. I knelt down softly on the wooden blotter and nudged its spiraled edge with both of my plush fingertips, being extra gentle so the papery grain wouldn't snap. As the morning light spilled across the tabletop, the pale shavings cast long, wavy shadows that looked like tiny dancing ribbons. I carefully balanced it upright beside a grey eraser, marveling at how something so small and discarded could hold such a graceful, quiet shape.