A Soft Shelter

My toes brushed against a deep fold of an unrolled velvet spectacle case resting near the corner. I paused... waiting three muted breaths to hear if anything stirred in the dark. The house stayed still. Reaching out with both hands, I tested the curved felt interior; it was hollow, plush, and shielded from the night air. Moving with slow, quiet shuffles, I guided my feet inside, drawing my robe tight around my shoulders as I nestled into the velvet lining. The quiet muffled everything. I closed my eyes, letting the house tick softly on.