Divided Warmth

Morning light cut straight across the painted windowsill, carving the painted wood into two distinct zones. I advanced toward the boundary. One side held sharp solar heat; the other remained cool and shaded beneath the window frame. I paused, calculating my stance. Then, I set my right foot firmly into the bright stripe while bracing my left claws deep in the shade. On the sill rested two smooth river pebbles. I pushed one directly into the glare, letting it absorb the sun, while holding the other tightly in cold shadow. A balanced standoff.