Little Leaf Knows
Tam held the little pot with both hands. The pot was cold. Wisp drifted close beside Tam. Wisp glowed a little brighter. One green leaf grew in the pot. The leaf was small. Smaller than Tam's thumb. "Hello, little leaf," said Tam. Tam carried the pot down the round hall.
The station hummed. The floor was cool. Tam put the pot on a shelf. The shelf was cool too. Then the leaf leaned. It leaned slowly, slowly. It leaned at the round window. Wisp glowed brighter. Tam touched the window. The window was warm. "Little leaf knows where the warm is."
Tam moved the pot to the window. The leaf opened wide. Earth turned below, blue and white. Sun came through the glass. The glass was warm on Tam's cheek. Tam put both hands flat on it. Wisp drifted close and glowed. Tam's cold fingers went warm.
Tam's socks were still cold. Tam looked at the leaf again. The leaf leaned into the light. So Tam leaned too. Tam sat down in the sunny spot. Wisp floated above Tam's head. The floor there was warm as a cup. "Little leaf knows where the warm is."
Tam went to find the blanket. It floated out of the air. Tam caught it with both arms. Tam tucked it around their knees. Tam tucked one corner near the pot. Wisp glowed soft and round. The window stayed warm. The hum stayed slow. Tam yawned a big yawn.
Outside, the sky was dark and quiet. Inside, the light was gold. The leaf did not move now. Wisp did not move now. Tam's eyes went slow. "Little leaf knows where the warm is," Tam whispered. The station hummed on, low and low and low.
Tam lay down in the warm spot. Wisp drifted just above, glowing low. The little pot sat close by. The blanket was warm. Tam's hands were warm. "Goodnight, little leaf. Goodnight, Wisp." Tam breathed in. Tam breathed out. Wisp glowed slow, soft as breathing.
