An Empress in brown jeans and soft UGG boots waits near the wall at the bus stop, talking on her phone. Just behind her heel, an snail rests on the pavement — completely at the mercy of her next movement. When she casually steps back, her boot comes down over it. The snail collapses instantly beneath the soft sole, spreading into a wet, slimy trace on the ground. She glances down for a moment, but continues her conversation without pause. Soon the bus arrives. As if nothing happened, she picks up the bags she left beside her and walks away, leaving only the faint smear behind on the pavement.