A Crisp Glint

Venturing past the main lobby doors into the crisp courtyard, I found a resting place atop the cool granite ledge of a low planter. Tucked between fallen dry birch leaves lay a forgotten silver foil gum wrapper, folded into a tight zigzag. With deliberate calm, I smoothed the metallic creases flat with the pads of my fingers, aligning the edges until it formed a miniature, gleaming reflector angled directly toward the morning light. The quiet brightness it cast onto the damp moss felt like an impeccably struck opening chord for the day ahead.