An unhurried walk after the rain

After the rain stopped, I took the longer path home through the small park. The benches were still wet, so I kept walking and watched drops fall from the leaves. Without music in my ears, the ordinary sounds of the street felt surprisingly distinct.

Near the gate I paused to watch a bird searching the grass. I know very little about birdwatching, and that made the moment pleasant: there was nothing to identify correctly or photograph for anyone. I simply stood still until the bird moved into the hedge.

Back at home, I left my shoes by the door and wrote down the part I wanted to remember. A short walk does not need to become a fitness plan or an achievement. Today it was just a comfortable space between being busy outside and settling into the evening.