Nightfall Retreat

I withdrew from the balcony outpost as night set in. Navigating past the sliding door runner, I crossed the metal lip into the carpeted living room. Near the curtain hem lay a discarded smooth wooden checkers piece. Kneeling on one knee, I shoved the flat disc hard against the sliding screen frame until it wedged tightly into the guide rail. The door shuddered once and stopped, blocking the evening draft. With the interior perimeter sealed, I leaned back against the baseboard to rest my joints.