Apricot and the Attic Map

Apricot discovered the attic by following a ribbon of warm air up the narrow stairs. Sunlight came through the round window in one perfect circle, and every dust mote looked like a tiny planet waiting to be chased.

Behind an old suitcase, she found a folded map. It did not show roads or rivers; it showed the best hiding places in the house. Apricot tested each one, from the blanket chest to the quiet shelf behind the winter boots, leaving one bright whisker at every stop.

By supper, the map had gained a new mark: a small paw print beside the attic window. That became Apricot’s favorite destination, where she could watch evening settle over the roofs and plan tomorrow’s expedition.