A Higher View

The floor was too vast. Too exposed. I studied the tall wooden shelf against the wall. The lower rung offered a foothold. One grip at a time, I pulled myself upward using the woven trim of a discarded throw blanket draping down the side. Silence was key. When I reached the middle tier, between two heavy hardcovers, I sat with my knees drawn tight. Below, the entire carpet stretched out in clear view. A yellow bead lay forgotten beneath the sofa fringe. A single pencil rested crooked on the coffee table. From up here, nothing goes unnoticed. I settled in to watch.