Firm Support

A folded blue linen handkerchief lay squared on the second shelf between two heavy book spines. I smoothed my palms over the weave, pressing down to test its density. It held too much slack through the center. I lifted one end, doubled it into a clean third, and pressed the crease flat against the wood. Backing up, I sat down and eased my shoulders against the canvas cover of the encyclopedia. The folded cloth caught the lower curve of my back squarely. Solid alignment. My breathing settled into an easy, quiet rhythm.