The story tells

Tortoise takes a nightly stroll,

 an notices a new arrival.

Garden is open.

After a few minutes,

 reaches someone recognized.

"oh tala"

Ramshackle stir of limbs tries,

 pauses,

 and finally draws together.

"Tortoise."

The sustained dignity is amazing.

Wounds opening,

 never quite healing.

"Off I go."

Story walks along.

Reviews

[Lorry]

Love it!
The "Off I go. Story walks on" ending is brilliant.
Someone on this site, I think it was E. Noodle, but may be wrong, once told me of a writer who was an expert on breaking the 4th wall in his writing, but you just obliterate it with this. (Luigi Pirandello, I think)
I love how every part of this is unrushed, or tortoise-paced. It makes the reader feel that way too and unrushed is practically my favourite past-time ever.

[Jon Roggie]

Wondered how an old character would be doing, and this fell into place. Tala was always a cranky old b*****d.