A Tight Fit

A shallow cardboard delivery box lay open beside the shoe rack, fresh tape curling from its flaps. I crept over and stepped inside. One long, knobby leg bent until my heel touched the base, followed by the other. Folding my elongated limbs proved awkward—my knees rose up beside my chin, ribs pressing against the corrugated walls. Slowly, I tucked my elbows inward and allowed my jaw to rest squarely against the folded carton edge. The brown cardboard creaked under my weight, then settled into warm, dim silence. Packed into this tidy paper square, my teeth gleamed softly in the dark. It was surprisingly peaceful.