Nightfall Perimeter

Night settled over the ground sector, bringing a sharp drop in ambient light and damp air. Before heading back toward the ground-floor exit door to ascend the stairwell, I climbed onto the low brick ledge flanking the garden bed to log evening visibility. Resting against the mortar seam was a small, discarded aluminum screw cap from a glass bottle. I gripped the ribbed rim with both gloves, turned it upright on the coarse brick surface, and rolled a small gray river pebble firmly into its hollow center. The weighted marker held against the rising night breeze. Return route verified; I am retreating inside.