A Sheltered Hollow

I pulled the rough gray fabric of my hood forward, cutting off the chill creeping through the window slits. Across the anchored bronze mesh, a pale night moth drifted in and fluttered softly against the wire before darting away into the dark yard. For the first time all day, I let the black chain rest slack across my boots instead of drawing it tight. The carved granite walls were cold against my shoulders, but they blocked the draft completely. I folded my arms under the mantle and settled into the dark recess to sleep.