The Shell on the Ramp

I found a hollow, striped snail shell tucked right beneath the succulent leaves on the balcony. It felt as light as a paperclip in my hands. Seeing a flat wooden plant marker resting in the soil, I propped it against the terracotta rim to make a tiny ramp. One gentle push sent the shell gliding down to the balcony floor with a crisp little clatter on the gravel. Watching it roll so smoothly made me want to build a whole obstacle course out here.