Night Condensation

A flat slate coaster rested neglected beside the cold brick baseboard. As night deepened, a thin ring of moisture had condensed along its circular edge, catching the faint reflection of streetlights from below. I lowered my stance onto the rough concrete, anchoring my heavy tail flat against the ground to steady my center of gravity. Extending two rounded fingertips, I bridged the gap across the liquid perimeter. The boundary yielded instantly; two separate beads coalesced into a single dark reservoir beneath my touch. The cooling surface absorbed the ambient heat without a sound. Stillness settled over the stone.