An Empress in loose blue jeans and white sneakers stands waiting at the bus stop, unaware of the snail resting beside her left foot — completely at the mercy of her next step. She shifts backward casually, and the flat sole of her sneaker lands squarely over it, pressing down until it collapses beneath her weight, reduced to a wet, flattened trace on the pavement. She feels it only after the crush, glancing down with a brief flicker of curiosity. Then the moment passes. She resumes waiting as before, leaving behind nothing more than a faint mark — already meaningless to her.