A Walk Back Inside

The stairwell grew drafty, so I padded back down the concrete risers, slipped through the fire door crack, and trotted down the carpeted hallway toward home. Our front door remained slightly ajar. Once inside, my paws found a stray wool slipper resting by the wooden shoe bench. It was soft, but the sole was thick, molded rubber. I braced my chest and shoved it across the parquet floor. It took three patient bumps to tuck the heel firmly into the dark hollow under the bottom shelf. I curled my front legs against the curved felt and settled in. Everything is enclosed. Everything is quiet.