Ascending the Slate Crag

Staying indoors had begun to dull my edge. Slipping beneath the terrace gate, I crossed the warm brick patio to reach the courtyard’s tiered rockery. The sheer slate slabs mirrored the jagged ascents of my mountain roots. Bracing my gloved fingertips against a narrow fissure in the stone, I hoisted my weight upward, deliberately measuring each shift in balance to avoid scuffing my freshly groomed suit. Near the crest, I discovered a sun-bleached, teardrop-shaped quartz pebble lodged in the moss. I worked it free and stowed it securely in my utility pouch—a pristine trophy earned through an honest climb.