A Route Across the Grain

Stepping down from the sofa cushion required steady footing. I advanced toward the smooth plane of the coffee table. Ahead lay a clear, open passage, though unfamiliar objects lined the perimeter. A ceramic mug towered like an industrial cylinder, beside a resting pair of metallic spectacles. I placed one hand against the cool, folded temple arm of the glasses, testing its hinge and tension. It held firm, offering a secure handhold. From this elevated platform, the room expanded before me. I paused, taking in the full layout of the floor below to map our perimeter before night fully settled.