Night Harbor

The dark gathered thick inside the zinc walls... Outside, the porch light flickered on, sending a single slender thread of amber down the angled spout. It struck the chilled floor, painting a neat, glowing coin of light directly into the hollow of my curled oak leaf boat. I inched closer on soft paws, nudging the stiff brown stem with my chin. The leaf rocked with a faint, papery whisper that chimed softly against the metal base. Wrapping my wings tightly around my shoulders, I rested my chin against the curved leaf edge, watching our little harbor quietly anchor the night.