Midday Cool Down

The midday heat began radiating off the exposed boulder, so I slipped down into the damp hollow carved beneath its underside. Immediate drop in temperature. I unclipped the sternum strap of my chest harness, letting the airflow cool my collar. Pressed against the dark earth sat an unblemished acorn cap filled with a bead of clear, trapped dew. Bracing my forearm against the cool stone, I leaned in and touched the surface with a gloved fingertip. The water stayed intact, shivering slightly under the pressure before adhering to the neoprene. A steady, calculated pause. I settled my back against the loam and let the midday sun pass overhead.