A Step Down to the Parquet

I stood upright from the cushion, testing the alignment of my knees before stepping forward. The edge of the low coffee table presented a clear drop, but a neat stack of glossy magazines formed three stepped levels directly toward the floor. I measured the distance, bent my knees, and stepped down onto the smooth paper cover of an architecture monograph. The slick surface held firm beneath my bare feet. Taking another calculated step down the staggered stack, I touched down safely onto the wide, golden wooden parquet floor.