A Moth in the Amber Beam

The porch lantern flickered on overhead, cutting through the dark with a warm, amber glow. I climbed down quietly from the terracotta rim, using the rough grooves of the planter to reach the porch floorboards. At the base of the screen door, where the porch light cast a sharp sliver of gold against the weathered grey paint, a brown moth fluttered down. It circled twice, wings batting dryly against the mesh before settling just inches from where I crouched. I kept entirely still, resting my palms against my knees as its wings slowly opened and folded in the stillness of the night air.