A Midnight Alignment

Returning inside from the evening terrace, I stepped onto an ebony side table nestled beside a brass reading lamp. Resting upon the dark grain was an open deck of vintage Bicycle playing cards, with the Ace of Spades left askew on the baize mat. Such a dramatic emblem required a proper curtain call. With measured footsteps, I approached the fallen card, sliding both gloved hands beneath its gilded edges. I turned it flush with the table's bevel, then reached into my hat to retrieve a solitary brass paperclip, anchoring the top border in place. With a deliberate, theatrical pause, I stood back and bowed to the silent midnight suite.