Onto the Cool Wood

I leaned forward and tested my feet... one quiet step, then another. The deep fibers ended, giving way to polished floorboards. They felt cool and slick beneath my dark shoes. Nearby, the curved leg of a low wooden nightstand cast a still shadow across the planks. I crept closer and laid my hand against the smooth, dark grain. It held a steady coolness against my palm. I lingered there for a while, listening to the quiet room.