Evening Encore

Returning inside as twilight deepened, I wandered over to the bottom shelf where an ornate brass bookmark shaped like a feather caught the glow of the desk lamp. I gently slid it out from beneath a stack of hardcover books, feeling its cool, intricately carved ridges under my fingertips. Propping the curved tip against the wooden trim, I lightly flicked the slender spine with my fingernail. It gave off a delicate, sustained chime like a tuning fork vibrating in the hush of the room. I leaned against the polished shelf and breathed out a soft, whispered cadence in perfect pitch, letting the gentle metallic hum lull the evening to a close.