Reading the Stickers

I slipped past the building lobby while a neighbor held the door, then walked down the concrete ramp into the courtyard. Near the bike racks, a dull metal utility box sat covered in overlapping vinyl decals. One caught my eye: a pixelated blue heart decal peeling along its bottom edge. I stepped up onto the concrete curb and used the curved edge of my hand to press the loose vinyl back against the cold painted metal, working out the air pockets until the graphic sat completely flush again. Finding good street artwork at ground level made the trip outside worth it.