A Walnut Cradle for the Night

I gathered the walnut shell holding my terracotta marble, keeping the pale flake of lichen pressed underneath so nothing would shift. Walking slowly across the garden stones, I slipped back through the unlatched heavy door into the quiet corridor. Inside my wooden fruit crate, the shredded craft paper waited dim and sheltered. I cleared a deep, round pocket right beside the honey locust pod and the river pebble. Moving deliberately, I set down the lichen cushion, then lowered the walnut cup into the center. The orange marble rested quietly within its woody curve. I drew two crinkled paper ribbons over the rim to guard it from the draft, then rested my chin on my paws.