At a backyard gathering, a bright helium balloon floats above a picnic chair. Tied with a curly ribbon, it rises steadily, round and full, swaying gently with each passing breeze.
The balloon stands out in the open air, held high by the lift inside it. Minutes after release, it hovers two feet up, part of the lively scene below.
The Slow Descent Begins
As time moves on, helium slips out through the knot. After half an hour, the balloon dips lower, now eye-level with seated guests. It shrinks slightly, the surface less taut.
An hour later, it brushes the chair's top, half its former size. The sway slows as it nears the surface below. By late afternoon, it settles on the grass, flat and wrinkled, ribbon draped nearby.
The balloon shifts from airy height to ground level as helium drifts away bit by bit. What starts upright ends grounded, changed by the gradual release.