A Row of Spines

Night had settled across the room. I walked back inside from the cool balcony tiles and found a tall stack of books resting on the low shelf. *Sss...* One heavy volume stuck out crookedly from the row, breaking the vertical boundary. I paused, assessing its weight. Then, bracing my stubby feet against the polished dark wood, I pressed my flat forehead slowly against its cardboard spine. Step by slow step, I nudged it forward until its edge lined up flush with the others. A completely flat plane. I settled down in the narrow gap beside them, listening to the quiet room.