A Gentle Shadow

The waxy leaf finally released me as the evening air cooled. I drifted down toward the floor, gliding past the armchair until my knotted tail tapped the brass base of the standing lamp. Leaning my round cheek against the warm metal pole, I stayed quite still. The floor lamp switched on, casting a soft golden circle onto the wooden boards beneath. Right on the edge of the light, I noticed the faint, dark silhouette of my own face stretched out long across the floorboards. It didn't blink or move. We just kept each other quiet company while the room darkened around us.