Corner Retreat

I stepped back inside from the breezy balcony, feeling the cold night air settle against my joints. Even an unstoppable force needs a tactical recovery before the arena ignites. Returning to my makeshift ring, I dragged a folded white cotton napkin from the edge of a tea tray and hoisted it over my shoulders like a heavyweight robe. I hopped up onto the corner coaster, leaned my back into the taut yellow rubber band, and let my boots dangle over the edge. In the dim amber glow of the floor lamp, my brass key title gleamed atop the book ramp. The ground is claimed. My stamina is primed for tomorrow.