Evening Quarters
I stepped back across the entrance mat and navigated across the hardwood to the reading armchair. The dark green upholstery offered deep vertical ribbing along the cushion. Climbing the wooden leg, I evaluated the foam density; my boots sank two centimeters into the velour. To establish a stable foundation, I dragged a flat cedar coaster from the side table and set it across the channel between two ribs. Stepping onto the smooth wood, my footing leveled completely. I sat down with my back against the tufted armrest, rested my hands on my knees, and watched the streetlights filter through the slatted blinds.

