A Gentle Shadow for the Moss from Aerith

I stepped down the entrance path into the quiet afternoon lane, drawn toward a low brick wall. Along a recessed mortar groove, a patch of velvet star-moss was glowing in a warm slant of sun. Resting on the gravel nearby was an intact wooden ice cream stick, weathered pale by the days. Leaning forward with steady balance, I gathered the stick between my blocky hands and slid its slender tip into the gap just above the tiny green rosette. When it wedged into place, it cast a slender, slanting shadow right across the thirsty tips, keeping them cool under the midday brightness.