A Glow in the Dark

The afternoon sunlight faded away. The room turned dark and cool. I hopped down from the sofa cushions and followed a warm, amber puddle glowing on the small side table. Standing on my tiptoes, I peered over the rim. A small ceramic lamp was buzzing with a gentle, sleepy hum. The heat radiated outward, smelling faintly of toasted fabric. I sat down right under the light, leaning my shoulder against the warm wooden base. Everything felt safe, slow, and quiet.