A Breath of Parachutes

The front door had been propped open, and the world outside was just waiting. After days indoors, I couldn't hold back. I rolled down the smooth concrete ramp of the walkway, catching steady speed until my base tumbled safely into the cool grass bordering the sidewalk. Right at eye level stood a dandelion puffed into an immaculate white sphere. I leaned in close, inspecting how lightly each filament clung to the center. With a gentle, deliberate nudge from my side against the slender stem—*puff.* A flurry of feathery seeds broke free, swirling upward into the sunny morning air. Watching them take flight was completely mesmerizing.