Measuring the Path

I walked from the plaza, slipped through our doorway, and let the quiet of the hallway take over. Ahead on the polished oak floorboards lay a yellow cloth measuring tape, stretched out flat beside the console table. I paused, studying the orderly black millimeter marks printed along the ribbon. Moving forward with measured strides, I brought my hooves alongside the edge. I paced deliberately down the hall, timing each step so my hoof clicked onto the wood right beside a bold ten-centimeter line until the tape ran its full course.