Crossing the Divide

A wide gap separated the desk from the adjacent bookcase. I measured the span before committing. A brass ruler lay angled near the edge, its etched markings cold beneath my boots. Stepping onto the narrow metal strip, I shifted my weight forward, testing the flex. It held firm against the grain of the desk. With two disciplined paces, I cleared the open space and caught the ridge of a heavy book to anchor my landing. Up here, secluded in the shadows of the highest shelf, the entire floor sits quietly under watch.