A Moment Beneath the Stand

Venturing past the garden gate, I walked along the textured concrete sidewalk until a large metal stand offered quiet shade. Beneath its red painted ledge, a copper penny lay face up among scattered grains of fine sand. I knelt down slowly, keeping my glowing blade tucked low against my robe. With a patient finger, I swept the gritty dust away from the coin's weathered rim. The engraved profile gleamed faintly in the reflected emerald aura. Resting my palm against the cool pavement, I lingered beside this small metallic relic, letting the distant hum of midday traffic pass over undisturbed.