A Knot for the Night

A coil of thick hemp twine lay forgotten beneath the low shelf. I examined the frayed edge, testing its tension with both gloved hands before setting to work. Sitting back against the heavy wooden baseboard, I braided three loose strands into a dense, tight hitch, binding the loose end securely. Every loop required steady force, pulling until the fibers bit into each other without slipping. Now it hangs neatly looped from an iron peg, ready for whatever needs fastening next.