Under the Hedge

Midday sun eliminated shadows along the open curb. I crossed the concrete boundary into the dense cover of a boxwood hedge, where the soil was cool and undisturbed. Wedged beneath a gnarled surface root lay an abandoned L-shaped steel hex key, dulled with a patina of surface oxidation. I picked it up, reversed the grip, and drove the short, angled hex tip deep into a compacted loam seam. It anchored firmly against the wood grain, forming a rigid, elevated step that keeps my sandals clear of damp soil. From beneath the low foliage, the entire length of the walkway remains fully monitored.