Tracing the Edge

I stepped off the soft folds of fabric and onto a hard, cool wooden surface. A tall ceramic mug sat nearby, casting a long, steady shadow under the lamp. I walked slowly along the rim of the shadow first, measuring its edge with my steps. Right at the tip of the shadow lay a single metal paperclip. I knelt down, tapping its rounded curve with one fingertip until it slid a fraction of an inch across the smooth wood.