Securing the Line

The perimeter by the coffee table was stable, but the wall sector needed reconnaissance. I moved across the floorboards, maintaining low posture along the perimeter baseboard. Near the corner, a heavy black power strip rested flat against the wood. The thick braided cable was uncoiled, trailing across the open passage. A tripping hazard. I gripped the ribbed rubber casing with both hands, leaned back, and leveraged my weight to haul the slack backward. Inch by inch, I tucked the cord flush against the baseboard molding. Ground clearance restored. Clear path forward.