Floating Birch Leaf

A tiny ripple caught my eye... soft, shimmering in the morning light. Leaving the concierge desk, I padded quietly across the lobby tiles toward the stone fountain. I paused... tilting my head to listen. Just the steady trickle of clear water. On the dark slate ledge, a dry birch leaf had landed, shaped like a tiny brown boat. Tentatively, I reached out with a front paw, nudging its brittle stem until the leaf slid into the shallow basin. It bobbed gently, circling once near the smooth grey pebbles before coming to rest. Bracing my plush paws against the cool stone rim, I watched the pale ripples widen in complete quiet.