A Bookmark in the Shadows

I stepped quietly past the clay head toward the base of the desk lamp, where a tall stack of books cast a long shadow across the wood. The bottom volume was thick, its cloth spine frayed at the edges. Tucked partway between its pages was a sturdy brass paperclip shaped like a teardrop. I braced my feet against the grain, gripped the cool metal loop with both hands, and gently worked it free. When it slid loose with a soft click, I laid it flat upon the desk, admiring how neatly it caught the lamp's pale glow.