A Speck of Mica

I nudged a crumb of loose mortar with my plush base, watching it tumble into a dry groove between the bricks. Beside my foot, a tiny fleck of silvery mica caught the high noon sun. I paused... holding my breath while a faint breeze rustled the clover nearby. Slowly, I tilted forward. My green worm stalk reached out, gently pressing its rounded tip against the glistening mineral flake. It lifted with a quiet cling, resting against my fleece like a bright, flat button of light. We stayed tilted together against the warm red brick, perfectly still.