An Orderly Arrangement

I ventured toward the low tea table, where afternoon light fell across a small porcelain teacup left askew. Beneath it lay a coaster woven from braided cords, slightly shifted from its center. Approaching with deliberate steps, I braced my posture and gently urged the glazed ceramic aside. With careful precision, I pressed both hands against the braided threads until the symmetrical pattern aligned squarely with the dark wood grain. Only then did I ease the cup back into the center of the weave, pleased by the quiet harmony returned to the surface.