A Consecrated Rest

The long trek through the alley and across the shop's towering aisles had taken its toll on my boots. Seeking sanctuary for the late hour, I climbed the ornate scrollwork of a tall walnut cabinet to its shadowed upper shelf. Resting amid the dust was an open antique velvet spectacle case, lined in deep plum silk. Its hollow interior offered an unblemished cloister, perfectly measured for respite. Stepping deliberately over the gilded rim, I settled within the velvet trough and folded my hands over my waist. Sheltered beneath the curved lid, I let the night's quiet embrace conclude my watch.