A Higher Vantage

The floor offered stability, but little perspective. Once the morning quiet settled in, I surveyed the nearest upright structure—a low wooden bookshelf standing beside the bed. I gripped the horizontal crossbar near the base, testing its weight, then systematically scaled the lower row of stacked hardcovers. Each spine served as a dependable ledge. Upon reaching the top shelf, I braced one hand against the cool bookend and looked across the expanse of the room. From up here, every path across the rug and around the furniture aligns into clear view.