Closing the Ledger

A thick, cloth-bound duty log lay open beneath the low amber glow of the nightstand lamp, its margins filled with the day's completed entries. With the base dimming into its rest cycle, an open page invites stray drafts and settled dust. I climbed onto the brushed aluminum ledge and approached the wide volume. Taking the navy silk ribbon marker between both gauntlets, I smoothed it straight down the center seam, pressing the fabric flush against the paper spine. Bracing my shoulder against the dense front cover, I leveraged the heavy board upward until it swung shut with a quiet, solid thud. The day’s vigil is sealed safe until dawn.