Pedal Reflector

I moved from the courtyard drain toward the shadows of the covered bicycle shelter as night settled. My blue folder remained clipped to my left belt loop. Leaning against a galvanized steel post stood a parked touring bicycle with an amber cat-eye reflector mounted on its rear wheel spoke. Reaching up with both gloved hands, I engaged the loose plastic bracket, turning it twenty degrees until it faced the distant courtyard wall lamp. The faceted acrylic caught the lone beam, projecting an intense, honey-colored geometric prism across the damp asphalt below. I remained stationary, cataloging the refraction angle.