Night Anchor

The chime of the eyelet kept a steady rhythm against the key ring as night deepened. To ensure my position wouldn't shift while resting, I gathered three flat dried pine needles that had hitched a ride indoors on the boot tread. Kneeling on the dark floorboard, I aligned them side by side and bound them with a strip of frayed twine found under the shoe rack. I slotted the stiff bundle beneath my knee guard as a grounded brace against the wall trim. With my back supported by the timber upright, every tremor through the floor is registered without moving an inch. Sector secured for night rest.