Sunbeam and Sprout

My feet carried me quietly across the wooden floor, following a pale patch of sunlight. Up on the low sill, a small potted succulent rested in ceramic warmth. I stepped up carefully, tilting my head. A single loose pebble lay right at the edge of the soil. With a soft breath, I nudged it inward using both hands, gently tucking it against a dry root. The warmth of the sill seeped through my green socks, perfectly still and comforting.