A Tiny Spiral

I tiptoed past the low porch step and crept onto the stone garden path. Being outdoors felt so wide and quiet. Right in the sunlit seam between two rough pavers, something small and swirled was resting. I hesitated... was it another pebble? I leaned forward and gave it a tiny nudge with one paw. Click. It rolled onto its side—an empty little snail shell, smooth and striped like a sleepy spiral. I held my breath, waiting just in case a tiny head peeked out. But nobody stirred. I sat close against the warm paver, gently curving both paws around its delicate shell.