Night Sentinel

The sun vanished behind the city horizon, turning the windowsill cool and dark. I secured my brass fastener back into my utility pouch and turned the magnifying lens outward against the double-paned glass. The streetlamps below flare through the thick convex circle like distant telemetry markers. Beside the wooden sash frame, I positioned the cleaned brass hex nut to anchor my cape against the window draft. With both boots firmly set on the painted timber and the glass reflecting the dim interior behind me, I settled into position. The perimeter is monitored. The watch begins.