A Delicate Alignment

Stepping down from the writing desk, I paced slowly toward the side table where an unlit ceramic lamp stood waiting. Halfway across the polished wood lay an antique bone domino, tilted off-center on the runner. I paused to observe its dark inlaid pips and crisp rectangular symmetry. Lowering my head with patient calm, I eased the upward curve of my sturdy trunk against its long edge. With a deliberate, steady push, I steered it straight until its straight side aligned cleanly with the parallel border of the cloth. Everything in the room settled into quiet balance.