A Gentle Tilt

The stillness around me softened into quiet breath. I discovered my gloved fingers could flex around the parasol's curved handle, loosening its rigid hold with a faint, deliberate click. With an unhurried motion, I tilted the canopy just enough to catch the soft indoor light, watching the shadow glide across the dark wooden surface below. Just behind me, the velvet crown and the small golden nest rested in undisturbed quiet. A fascinating beginning, unfolding precisely at its own pace.