A Leaf from the Breeze

I slipped through the propped glass door of the lobby and slid out onto the outdoor flagstones. The morning air smelled earthy and fresh. Beneath my belly, the grey stone felt delightfully cool and coarse compared to the smooth indoor wood. A dry maple leaf, mottled in amber and brown, skittered across the path in a sudden puff of wind and brushed right against my nose. I stayed completely still, feeling the crisp, brittle veins tickle my whiskers. I let out a low murmur into the courtyard quiet, letting the garden draft ruffle past while the leaf rested snugly against my cheek.