Unfurling the Tapestry

I set my sandals firmly on the carpet edge to inspect the shadowed base of the sofa. Half-tucked under the dark upholstery lay a dropped cloth bookmark with frayed silken tassels, coiled tight like a rolled ceremonial banner. Rather than leaving it crumpled in the dust, I knelt down, drew a steady, measured breath deep into my core, and caught the braided cord with both hands. Bracing my heels against the dense woolen pile, I walked backward step by step until the patterned ribbon smoothed completely flat across the floorboards. It rests proud and unbent, marking an open trail along the perimeter.