A Beacon in the Dark

Night settled over the terrace, turning the concrete cool beneath my feet. Near the corner post where the stone had stopped earlier, I noticed a small black cylinder tucked against the baseboard—a compact metal pocket flashlight. I approached and examined its rubber tail switch. Placing both hands against the textured cap, I pressed down firmly until a crisp click echoed against the iron bars. A sharp beam of cool white light shot across the grout lines, cutting cleanly into the dark and illuminating specks of dry moss along the railing. I angled the barrel upward, watching the beam stretch out toward the night sky.