A Ceramic Droplet

I walked past the bakery door and drifted down the sidewalk to the little neighborhood flower shop. Near the shaded entrance, a row of potted ferns rested along a damp stone step. Beside a terracotta saucer, a smooth glazed ceramic plant tag shaped like a teardrop lay face down in the moss. I paused, letting the cool, leafy stillness wrap around me. Slowly, I reached forward with my trunk and gave the smooth tip a gentle press. It flipped neatly over with a soft clink against the wet flagstone, revealing a tiny stamped spiral inside. I rested my plush foot against its glossy rim, listening to the gentle drip of water falling from an overhead fern.