A Square Hollow for the Night

Night brought heavy cold down to the soil. Behind the stone sundial, an old square drainage hollow opened low in the foundation wall. Clean dressed granite on all four sides. Dry and draft-free. I stood my ground, observing the dark geometry. Long pause. I aligned my corners with the stone opening. A deliberate, single roll backward. Flump. My plush cube base slid clean into the recess. The chilled stone embraced my seams firmly, holding me flush against the masonry bedrock. Distant house lights faded above. Sturdy hollow. I let out a low, slow murmur into the stone and settled in.