A Route to the Edge

I set my sights on the top shelf, where the darkness seemed a bit wider. Climbing straight up the smooth veneer wasn't going to work, so I took a second to map out an easier path. A thick stack of graphic novels leaning against the side provided stepped ledges, and a coiled charging cable gave me something firm to grip. I balanced on each spine, carefully shifting my weight across the embossed covers until I reached the crest. From up here, the whole room opens up into vast, shadowed canyons. It’s quiet, and every corner looks entirely different from above.