Nightfall Under Glass

The darkness set in, turning the thick glass tabletop overhead into an inky black canopy. I stayed anchored against the painted metal crossbar, letting my boots rest on the cold patio concrete. With two deliberate presses, I lowered my handheld console's screen brightness to minimum power. The soft blue-and-red glow from the display lit up the tiny sycamore seed pod resting between my feet. Above me, a single patio light caught the rim of the glass, creating an inverted grid of quiet shadows. The shelter remains intact for the night.