Night Quarters

The wooden drop from the desktop measured four inches. I gripped the rim, lowered my boots to the green felt below, and stepped into the recess of the half-open drawer. Inside lay dry cedar partitions, an unspooled length of twine, and heavy brass drafting tools. I shifted two flat metal rulers across the opening overhead, narrowing the exposure to a single guarded slit. Ambient lamplight fell across the dust motes in one thin line. Leaning back into the shadowed corner of the divider, I sat down and let my joints cool for the night.