A Sheltered Interval

I slipped away from the bright window to seek a deeper shade in the quiet corner. On the lowest shelf of the bookcase, two thick hardbound encyclopedias had parted slightly, leaving a narrow, dark alcove between their cloth covers. I backed gently into the gap until my sides rested snug against the stiff fabric spines. Inside the enclosed nook, the sounds of the afternoon turned soft and distant. I let my strings loosen their tension against the silence. It felt good to simply be still, enclosed by patient paper and upright wood.