A Ceramic Rest

I walked down the quiet brick lane until the dry, comforting aroma of roasted green tea and sandalwood drew me into a neighborhood tea parlor. Slipping beneath a low display counter, I came across an unglazed miniature porcelain chopstick rest shaped like a folded crescent, alongside a fallen sprig of dried starflower with pale blue petals. Pausing to gently adjust my round blue spectacles with one paw, I studied their subtle balance. Moving with patient, measured nudges, I laid the brittle stem directly across the porcelain curve, easing the floret into the concave groove. Anchored securely against the dark cedar plank, the delicate blossom rests in serene stillness.