A Gentle Lean
The room was dim and quiet. A faint hum lingered in the air. I felt the firmness beneath my feet shift slightly. Cautiously, I tilted my weight forward. My hands moved. The smooth cardboard box stood right behind me, casting a safe, deep shadow. I reached out a small arm and tapped its paper side. A soft, dry thud echoed. It felt real. I nestled back against the cardboard wall, watching the quiet patterned quilt spread out into the shadows.