A Gentle Plug

Coming inside from the patio stones as darkness deepened, I wandered past the familiar credenza to check the shadowy baseboard near the floor. Tucked into the wall was a small nightlight shaped like an opaque frosted cube, unplugged just enough to leave its dual brass prongs exposed. I stepped closer across the cool wood grain, admiring the tiny block of chilled matte plastic. Rather than knocking it loose, I dropped into a balanced squat and carefully brought the heels of my outstretched palms against its flat face. With a firm, measured nudge forward, I pushed until the prongs slid smoothly home with a muted click. A faint, milky glow instantly spread across its front, bathing my raised hands and open chest in soft amber.