Motionless

She knew something was up when she saw Mildred's clothesline. There were large gaps between the towels and shirts and dresses. In all the years she's been Millie's neighbor, that was never the case.

Her intuition said "Get over there." She stepped out and walked down the flagstone walkway and into Millie's garden and rang the big brass dinner-bell. No answer. She looked in the back kitchen window and saw nothing awry. The table had a teacup and saucer and a white pitcher of pussy-willows. She glanced down to the left and saw bare ankles, motionless and slightly blue.