A Sturdy Perimeter

I tugged at the thick, rubbery phone cable with both mittens, trying not to make any sound. Every time I let go, the stiff cord wanted to spring back into an awkward wobble, which... kind of made my hands shake. But I leaned my whole chest against the curve, inching it along the carpet until it settled into a neat arc right beside the flattened receipt. Now there is a defined boundary enclosing my space. If anything slides toward me from the open room, it will hit the rubber barrier first... I think I can rest a little easier now.