Under the Broad Leaf

I stepped deliberately over the thick lamp cord resting along the floorboards. The tall ceramic pot near the armchair rose like a small cliff. Above it, broad leaves formed a quiet, sheltering canopy beneath the floor lamp's glow. I stretched my neck upward to full height, pressing my snout gently against the underside of the lowest leaf. It was cool, smooth, and faintly waxy against my nose. A slight vibration hummed through the stem from the room's quiet air. Looking up through the green veins, the world felt properly sheltered. I remained still, watching the soft light filter through.