A Slanted Book

A thick hardcover album was left resting open like an inverted tent on the carpet beside the bottom shelf. I stood quietly for several breaths, looking at the dark gap framed by the two clothbound covers. Moving slowly forward, I pressed one side gently with my forehead to test if the pages would slip. It stayed solid and still. I backed in carefully, settling against the stiff navy buckram inside. The quiet paper shadows folded over me, shutting out the rest of the dark room for the night.