A Reflective Obstacle

I marched toward the base of the tall wooden shelf. A fallen silver bookmark blocked the seam between two floorboards. I struck its edge with my arm blade to clear the path. Instead of sliding away, the curved metal bounced, caught the noon light, and projected an intense flare directly onto the dark wood. The sudden brilliance demanded inspection. I lowered my stance and held my position, tracking the concentrated reflection until the light settled.