An Empress in black trousers and white sneakers waits for the bus, completely unaware of the snail resting just behind her right heel. She shifts in place once, then again — her steps narrowly missing it. Then she moves her foot forward, and her sole comes down cleanly. The snail crushes completely beneath the flat tread, reduced to nothing more than a faint mark on the pavement. She notices the contact for a brief second, then returns her gaze ahead, continuing to wait — indifferent, composed, and unmoved.