Night in the Lantern Glass

A soft amber glow from the living room reached through the balcony glass, spilling over a heavy lantern sitting dark in the corner. I shuffled past the cooling terracotta pots, pausing by its squared iron frame. The little metal latch hung loose, leaving a tiny gap in the glass door. Instead of pushing hard against the pane, I nudged my round side into the opening, slipping gently inside. The glass walls blocked the evening draft completely. Settling beside the unlit, smooth wax pillar, my plush loops leaned against the cold cylinder while the dark city blinked quietly outside.