A Row of Pastel Wooden Pegs

My beads tapped softly against the painted sill as I found a little wooden bowl filled with four pastel-painted laundry pegs. It felt stuffy staying cuddled on the sofa, so I brought them to the wide window ledge to play. When I tried clipping the first lavender peg onto the sheer lace curtain, the stiff metal spring resisted my grip, making a sudden hot prick of frustration sting my chest. I paused, rested my plush hands against the cool glass, and counted three slow breaths. Pressing firmly with both thumbs, I squeezed the clamp open and clipped each colored peg along the curtain hem in an exact, straight row. Watching the bright morning light shine right through the pastel paint feels delightfully calm.