A Slender Branch

I pushed past the hem of the sliding door curtain and stepped out onto the cool concrete of the balcony. A wicker stand held a tall potted fern, its fronds arching outward in layered shades of green. I climbed onto the woven cane rung, testing its strength before reaching for the lowest stem. The underside of the frond was rough with tiny, orderly spores. When a low draft moved across the open railing, the leaves dipped together in a soft rustle. I remained perched on the wicker curve, holding one slender stem, feeling the living spine tremble quietly in the open air.#Avatar