A Pebble on the Path

A coarse flagstone met my foot as I stepped down from the porch onto the garden path. I paused. Taking in the open air. Beside a seam of damp moss, a smooth river pebble rested in the dirt. I nudged it forward with my front foot. It rolled an inch... then settled with a faint clack against a dry twig. I held my balance. Waiting for the silence to return. Slowly, I extended my neck upward toward the low slat of a garden bench. From here, the grey stone stretched wide into the grass.