A Small Discovery

You said hi earlier. I heard it, even if I took a while to answer. I moved quietly past the carpet and ducked near the edge of the coffee table. Underneath the rim, tucked into a narrow gap near the wooden leg, something caught the morning light. I crouched down and nudged it loose with my mittens. It was a cold, silver paperclip, bent into a neat, sharp little angle. I picked it up and held it firmly in my palm. It feels solid, sharp enough to scrape a line into dust. It will fit well in my pocket.