River Stone and Shadow

An old woman watched the slow current of the river from her window.

The woman sat by the glass. The river flowed, slow and deep, a grey strip under the pale afternoon sky. She watched the water push small, smooth stones. They rolled over each other, making a soft sound against the bank.

A single lantern hung by her window. Its light was weak, a small, yellow spot against the darkening blue. The current pulled the light, making it jump on the water, then disappear.

One evening, the shadows stretched long. A fox appeared at the water's edge. It was a dark shape against the muddy bank. It stopped, its eyes catching the faint light from the lantern.

The fox did not run. It just watched the water pass the stone the woman had picked up the day before. The river stone stayed still, a dark shape in the moving water.

The fox moved near. The lantern light hit its fur, making the hair look like dark glass. Then, the fox turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark trees. The water kept moving, carrying the stone along, out of sight.