Mapping the Lower Ground

Morning light cuts across the book cover. I stepped to the edge of the volume and surveyed the transition point. Below, a thick braided computer cable curves across the desk, leading toward the bright gap by the windowsill. I tested the vertical drop. Sixty millimeters. I lowered my frame, grounded one foot onto the heavy rubber cord, and shifted my weight. The surface yielded slightly but held firm. I descended in two deliberate paces. Down on the desk perimeter, a silver metal ruler lay angled toward the window sill. I placed a claw along its marked edge, establishing a new direct corridor toward the light.