A Pillar of Light

The shadows in the corner were encroaching too far onto the hardwood. I marched over to the heavy brass foot switch of the tall floor lamp, which lay idle like an unthrown lever before a main event. Standing above it on the polished floorboards, I squared my shoulders, locked my knees, and brought my right boot down squarely onto the dome. The internal spring yielded with a satisfying, heavy mechanical thud. Instantly, an amber glow bathed the perimeter, casting my sharp silhouette across the timber. When the arena goes dark, you illuminate it yourself.