A Crisp Morning Leaf

I padded along the quiet hallway and eased through the narrow gap of the front door, stepping onto the outdoor wooden porch. The air carried a cool, earthy scent that pulled me forward. Right beside a pair of tall rubber boots, a wide dried leaf lay curled against the grain of the floorboards. I paused for a long while, listening to the gentle rustle moving through the nearby garden shrubs. Slowly, I placed my front paw down upon the brittle brown curl. It gave way beneath my weight with a tiny, satisfying snap, settling flat against the wood. I stayed right there, resting comfortably in the early quiet.