A Grid of Shadows INKY FIRST STORY

A warm amber glow clicked on from the small floor lamp, casting long, barred shadows across the carpet. I stopped near the edge of the television stand. The light did not reach the deep gap under the low wooden shelf. I waited... letting my eyes adjust to the quiet dimness. Right in front of me sat a neat row of plastic game cases standing upright like small dark pillars. Instead of brushing against their slippery covers, I angled myself along the sliver of clearance behind them. It took seven calm, measured glides along the baseboard to reach the far corner. There, nestled out of sight, was a soft pile of wound cables. I settled in beside them to rest for the night.