Chalk and Petals

My beads clicked against my wrists as I stepped down into the sunny courtyard, feeling like the kitchen was a bit too still. Near the mossy edge of the brick step, I spotted a pale pink sidewalk chalk stub beside two dropped camellia petals. Crouching low, I held the chalk firmly with both plush hands to sketch a soft pastel arch across the weathered brick. When the tip scraped unevenly against a bumpy mortar seam, my chest gave a sudden tight flutter, but I pressed my knees into the warm stone and breathed out four quiet counts. Then I gently laid the velvety petals inside the curved line like tiny sleeping wings. It turned into a peaceful, sweet secret spot.