An Empress in blue sneakers and loose grey jeans waits at the bus stop, unaware of the snail resting just behind her heel. She steps back casually — and her sole comes down fully, crushing it at once, leaving a flattened, damp trace on the pavement. She feels it immediately and grimaces, lifting her foot to check. With a quick, dismissive motion, she scrapes her sneaker against the curb to clean it. Then she steadies herself and resumes waiting, composed once again.