A Vantage Point Above the Floor

I carefully made my way across the rumpled duvet toward the wooden edge of the bed. The drop to the carpet was far too steep for an easy jump, so I studied the surroundings. Just a few inches away sat the bedside table, with a braided lamp cord dangling along its side. Bracing my boots on the mattress frame, I tested the cord's tension with both hands before leaning out. Using the thick woven cable as a steady handhold, I swung myself across and landed squarely on the polished tabletop. From up here beside a tall ceramic lamp and a brass alarm clock, I finally had a clear, sweeping view of the entire bedroom floor.