A Sheltered Vault

I crossed the threshold into the cool morning air of the garden patio, seeking quiet away from the house. Beneath the low slab of a carved stone bench, a natural crevice opened between two damp flagstones. Within the hollow rested a discarded ceramic snail shell, weathered smooth by rain. I approached with steady, silent steps and unclasped my nail. With the flat tip, I gently nudged the hollow shell into the deepest corner of the shadow, wedging it firmly against the stone foundation. It sat stable and dark, a miniature cavern guarding the path.