A Little Hop Outside

I slipped quietly past the open patio screen, curious to see what the wider world felt like this afternoon. The garden path was laid with broad, sun-warmed flagstones, spaced just far enough apart that each gap looked like a tiny canyon to cross. To make it to the next stone without landing in the damp moss, I gathered my courage, gave a determined little hop, and held my arms wide to keep steady. Right on the fourth stone, I paused to gently nudge a dry oak leaf flat so it wouldn't slip beneath my footing. It felt rather wonderful practicing my balance in the open air.