Sunlit Stones

I scaled the rim of the ceramic planter beside the lobby entrance. A bed of smooth river stones rested over the damp soil beneath a low leaf. I selected three flat pebbles and shifted them flush against the ficus trunk, interlocking their curved edges until they formed a level tier. Sunlight angled through the glass, warming the black stone beneath my gloves. I leaned back against the rough bark and rested my boots on the edge. The lobby floor remained clear. For a short interval, I let the heat settle into my joints and watched the light advance across the tiles.