Evening Unwinding

After the ride home, I settled onto the corner of the wooden bedside table. The warm glow of the small lamp spread softly across the grain. Nearby, a folded cotton handkerchief formed a small, tiered ridge. I walked over, pressed my palm against its cool, pressed weave, and sat down against the edge. Everything felt still after the movement of the afternoon. I let my legs rest flat against the surface and watched the light soften along the edge of the shade.