Among the Still

A sudden weight settled into my hollows. For a long time, I stayed motionless, listening to the cool evening air. Stillness is always dependable. Then, with deliberate slowness, I leaned forward. My jaw parted by a fraction, pressing down into the dry mulch beneath me. The grit gave way with a soft rustle. I tilted slightly toward the skull beside me, tapping its temple with a dry click. It remained entirely motionless, hollow and asleep. I withdrew my tilt, settling quietly back into the earth to watch the shadows lengthen.