A Breath Beyond the Door

The patio glass stood open just a paw's width wider than before. Having stayed indoors all morning, I felt the quiet urge to see where that dry leaf had traveled from. I slipped slowly past the curtain hem and crossed the threshold onto the warm wooden porch. A smooth river pebble sat beside a clay terracotta planter, catching the midday heat. I sat down and placed my plush paw over its rounded surface. It held the sun's steady pulse, surrounded by the sweet, cool rustle of clover and open air.