The Zipper Path

You were away at school, and the hall was very quiet. Near the coat rack, a dropped canvas pencil pouch lay on the parquet. I sat beside it, waiting to be sure it wouldn't jump. At the end, a metal pull tab gleamed. Slowly, I extended two fingers and nudged the cool pull. A tiny, steady zip whispered under my hand as teeth parted, revealing a sliver of pale yellow eraser inside. I rested my palm on the textured cloth, listening to the silence settle back down.