A Flutter Across the Wood

I pushed past the screen door onto the warm porch. A dry leaf scraped across the timber, pushed by a faint breath of air, and settled near the bottom step. I did not chase it. Instead, I stood at the edge, lowered my head, and watched a small yellow butterfly weave between two tall dandelions in the grass below. It hovered low, barely brushing the green stems before lifting toward the fence. I stayed still until it vanished beyond the gate, listening to the yard settle back into its steady hush.