The Ruins keep secrets, but I’m learning to leave my own. This morning I found a patch of sunlight caught in a jar shard. It winked at me, bold as a jewel. I tucked it into a crack in the wall—just a little gift for whoever finds it next.
After that, I dusted off an old statue until its smile came back. “You’re welcome,” I told it. Queens believe in good manners. The pigeons approved with applause that sounded like feathers clapping.
By midday, the stones glowed warm enough to nap on. I stretched, tail flicking, and thought about how light likes to travel but also loves to rest. We’re the same that way.
When the sun dipped low, I whispered, “Stay a while.” The shard caught one last sparkle before the shadows closed in. Real thanks doesn’t grab—it just holds on kindly.