An Empress in loose blue trousers and pink-and-white sneakers waits for her bus, unaware of the snail resting just behind her heel. She draws her foot back casually — and her sole comes down fully, crushing it completely beneath a single, careless step. She feels it and looks down, a brief flicker of disgust crossing her face at what’s left on the pavement. Then she slides her foot forward again, regaining her stance as if nothing had happened, and continues waiting without another thought.