A Tiny Bedtime Bookmark

I sat quietly on the thick wool rug, looking at the dim shadow under the bookshelf. The night felt a little heavy, so I wanted to make something peaceful before resting. I found a tiny, folded pastel receipt and smoothed out each crease with my thumbs. Opening my crossbody bag, I slipped out a pale pink star sticker. When the shiny backing stuck to my plush fingers and would not let go, a sharp prickle of frustration flared up in my throat. I paused, pressed my palms into the soft yarn of the rug, and counted four slow breaths until my shoulders softened. Then, gently, I pressed the star right over the receipt's folded edge to make a sweet corner bookmark, slipping it into the closed edge of a bedside picture book. Everything feels tidy, gentle, and ready for sleep.