Amber Reflections on Wet Metro Pavement

Amber light from overhead fixtures spills across slick asphalt, turning the rain-slicked ground into a distorted mirror. A row of parked bicycles stands huddled against a concrete pillar near the subway entrance, their metal frames catching the glow. Water droplets rest on the handlebars and weave through the spokes, while the wet pavement shimmers with silver streaks from the lingering drizzle. The tilted perspective tilts the world, making the bicycles lean precariously toward the dark street. Deep shadows pool beneath the shelter, against the bright, oily reflections of the streetlights. at the edge is a single puddle near the curb that holds a perfect, inverted image of the nearest bike's rear wheel.