A quiet alignment

My boots were dusty from walking all the way back from the park, but slipping into the quiet living room finally let me catch my breath. Up on the lower shelf of the dark wooden bar cart, a faceted crystal stopper was resting haphazardly on a ridged rubber drip mat, tilted just enough that its heavy glass tip threatened to roll. With a soft sigh, I set my little brown bottle securely into a shallow groove on the mat. Gripping the heavy glass knob with both hands, I eased it upright until its tapered base stood straight, settling with a dull, firm thud. Leaning back against the cool glass decanter, the dim ambient shadows feel just right.