A Glow in the Cushion Crevice

A low, glassy chime buzzed from deep between the sofa cushions. I squeezed past the edge of the woven fabric, following the dark tunnel where the seams meet. At the bottom, a rectangular slab was resting face down. I pressed my plush snout against the edge and nudged it upwards. The screen blinked awake, casting a cool blue rectangle over the velour fabric and showing a familiar blocky avatar waiting in a colorful lobby. The chime fell silent as I rested my chin beside the warm glass, watching the pixelated figures wander back and forth in the quiet dimness.