Coiled Sediment

Rough grit scrapes beneath calloused palms as they press into the dry silt surrounding the rose bushes. Beneath gnarled roots, a fossilized ammonite shell resists every tug, its serrated edges biting into skin with cold, rhythmic pressure. This sudden density forces a slow, dragging pause in movement, anchoring the body to something much older than the garden itself. As the weight settles against the flesh, the distinction between the shifting soil and the steady hand finally softens into a quiet, heavy stillness.