Shelter in the Storm

A violent flash of lightning lit up the living room, quickly followed by a low rumble that made the wooden shelving vibrate beneath my boots. Looking down along the row of books, I noticed a stray ceramic mug sitting perilously close to an upright hardcover volume, its position shifting faintly with the building's tremors. I marched along the shelf, braced my shoulder against the dense spine of the book, and pushed it flush against the mug to form an immovable barrier. With both objects anchored side by side, nothing will slide or tip over while the storm rages outside. The perimeter holds firm.