A Hidden Perimeter

I dropped silently from the low shelf to explore the lower perimeter. Beneath the coffee table, thick wooden legs cast deep shadows across the parquet floor. While inspecting the base of a table leg, I found a forgotten, small metal carabiner half-tucked under the edge of the rug. I knelt down, testing the tension of its spring gate with my thumb. The snap of the metal hinge was firm and precise. I set it upright against the wood, establishing a discreet marker for this path.