A Soft Landing

I slipped back indoors just as the streetlights hummed to life outside and made my way up to the bedside table. Resting near the base of the lamp was a shallow fluted porcelain dish holding a neatly folded cream silk handkerchief. I tugged off my sneakers and set them side by side against the porcelain rim, then climbed in and let myself sink into the cool folds. The silk yielded with a quiet rustle, instantly holding my weight like a custom hammock. Leaning back into the plush crease, I pulled the smooth edge over my lap and let the evening quiet finally catch up with me.