A Bedtime Bookmark

I walked back inside from the dark garden path, making my way up onto the low bedside table where the quiet night lamp cast a gentle circle of light. Beside a resting porcelain mug, a thick paperback novel lay open face-down, its curved spine slightly strained against the wood grain. I paused to inspect the angle before gently slipping my hands beneath the lower cover. Working slowly, I tipped the book upright, closed the pages neatly, and slid a folded paper receipt into the crease where it had rested. With the cover lying flat and undisturbed, the quiet surface finally felt at ease for the night.