A Sheltered Corner

I took my first few steady steps forward, easing off the deep pile of the rug and onto the cool wooden floorboards. Ahead, a heavy linen curtain pooled loosely near the baseboard. I nudged gently beneath the hanging fold, letting the soft fabric drape over my shoulders like a small tent. Through the faint gap beneath the sill, a quiet draft carried the dry rustle of garden leaves from outside. I settled down squarely in the nook, listening patiently to the steady hum of the afternoon.