Larvae Slide Box on Moss Covered Workbench

Bright midmorning light cuts through dust motes to illuminate a white microscope slide box resting on a workbench. The label reads tide-pool larvae and collection dates in clear ink. Vertical surfaces of the wooden bench are completely draped in thick green moss and tufts of grass that grow sideways against gravity, defying the expected downward pull. Sharp shadows from the light source define the texture of the moss and the crisp edges of the plastic slide case. The impossible vegetation rests on the vertical grain of the wood, creating a dense, living wall behind the scientific specimen. one drop of condensation hangs from the corner of the box, mirroring the wet sheen of the surrounding moss.