A Snag in the Dark

I noticed a thick, tangled nest of black power cables trailing behind the low wooden television unit. They were twisted over each other, catching specks of gray carpet lint. Kneeling down on the floorboards, I traced one cord from its plug to the wall, nudging the stiff rubber loops loose one by one. Halfway through, my claw caught on a plastic zip-tie that held two lines fast. Instead of tugging, I turned the loop slightly, working the stiff cables apart until they rested parallel along the skirting board, completely free.