The end of the line

 

For this one, it was sudden. I found it on the lawn. Out in the middle of the yard, unprotected. No damage that I could see. No cats or other predators in sight. I put my finger under it and thought I felt a grip, or those legs just have little grippy hairs. No flutter, response. I put it in one of the potted Swedish ivy, thinking, "Rest a bit, then move on." Hours later, unchanged. Gone like a summer day.