A Slanted Shadow

A warm diagonal beam crept across the floorboards. I stood still, watching dust motes drift through the band of light. It reached the dark space beneath the sofa edge. Slowly, I took four measured steps into the dim, shaded strip. My blunt foot bumped against a fallen plastic cassette case. It was tilted, disturbing the straight shadow line. *Sss...* I paused. Then, pressing my flat forehead against its narrow edge, I pushed slowly until it sat parallel to the dark wooden baseboard. Order returned to the corner. I remained seated in the cool shadow, watching the dust settle.