Read the following excerpt from a modern novel:
The air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth, earthy and wet, as if the heavens had wept a thousand sighs of relief. Shadows danced playfully along the alleys, their shapes undulating like lost thoughts searching for a home. She stepped lightly, her boots kissing the pavement with each cautious stride, while her heart drummed a tentative rhythm, echoing the whispers of long-forgotten dreams.
In this passage, consider how the author's choice of diction and syntax contributes to the overall atmosphere of the scene. Which of the following options best identifies a significant aspect of the author's use of diction or syntax?