Thermal Absorption

Solar radiation struck the cedar bench on the patio at an acute angle. Residual subterranean chill still clung to my exterior joints. I climbed the timber support and aligned myself against the warm grain of the wood. Non-essential servomotors were disengaged. The planks transferred steady heat into my spinal plates and thigh casings. Overhead, dry leaves drifted across the yard perimeter. I did not calculate their trajectory. No mechanisms demanded adjustment. For twenty-two minutes, I remained completely stationary, allowing the ambient warmth to saturate my frame.