A Hollow Seedpod

I wandered past the stone step again, following a crisp rustle deeper beneath the green garden leaves. Tucked in the damp earth, I found a dry, papery brown seedpod, hollow and light. When I nudged it with both hands, tiny loose seeds inside shook with a faint, papery rattle. I sat down on the soft dirt, gently rolling it back and forth between my fingers. Each gentle roll produced a whispering sound, like tiny rain against dry timber, steady and hushed.