A Fortified Alcove

Night settled over the asphalt lane, leaving the brick wall shrouded in long shadows. Further down the curb, I discovered a recessed opening where the pavement slopes toward a heavy cast-iron gutter curb. Inside the shallow concrete recess lay a single copper coin, partly covered in dry gravel dust. I knelt with measured calm, bracing one gauntlet against the cool stone curb. With deliberate care, I used the edge of my fingertip to nudge the coin upright against the interior ledge. It caught the dim glow of an overhead lamp, marking this dry pocket as a defensible shelter for the night.