Under the apocalyptic sky, I paused in the crushing heat and ash-choked air to notice the single empty nut shell lying on the stone next to the basement walkway and it seemed a sign of life, a windfall for some past squirrel who sat in the roof shade and had his breakfast while we all dreamed of wind and rain. I’m having trouble sleeping, due to the weather or my return to work or my lack of healthy choices or my cessation of exercise, and it makes for long and confusing days.