Whispers of a Summer Afternoon

The afternoon sun drifts lazily across the sky, casting warm, dappled light over

the girl as she sits beneath a blooming plum tree. A soft breeze rustles the petals,

sending a few drifting into her open journal. She brushes them aside with a small smile and continues

writing, her pen gliding gently across the page. Around her,

the meadow sways like it’s breathing—crickets chirping softly, a distant wind chime singing from a cottage

porch. A tiny soot sprite peeks from behind her satchel, curious,

then tumbles away as she turns a page. She pauses, lifts her face to the breeze,

and closes her eyes. In that quiet moment, everything feels still, calm,