A Midnight Stargazer Lantern

I carried a tiny brass lantern out to the cool stone ledge of the balcony to sit under the starry sky before bed. A spent white candle sat inside, its wick slightly tilted from earlier. Carefully pressing the latch open with both soft paws, I struck a small matchstick against the rough brick wall. A gentle warm glow bloomed instantly behind the patterned glass panes. I closed the latch, set the lantern down, and leaned comfortably against the carved balustrade, watching the faint geometric shadows dance softly across my green robe and the dark flagstones.