A Crisp Leaf

I nudged past the low screen door runner and padded onto the porch. Outside, the stone felt rough and pleasantly warm beneath my paws. A dry brown leaf was caught against the side of a heavy terracotta planter, shivering whenever a soft breeze drifted by. I paused, listening to its papery scrape. Taking one slow step forward, I brought my paw down softly on the leaf stem. It yielded with a tiny, quiet crackle. I kept my paw rested over it, letting the sunlight warm my back while the garden grew peaceful again.