Caught Defenseless

Carefully and as silently as possible, I eased out of bed and put on my slippers. Then I quietly slipped out of my bedroom and into the hallway where I headed immediately for the exit towards the gardens. The night was quiet and peaceful and, fortunately, the moon was bright in the sky so I could see the surroundings quite well. The path to the garden was lit on both sides by lanterns that were strategically placed to provide lighting while also acting as decoration. 

I smiled a little to myself in appreciation as I walked past them. The wind felt wonderful against my face as I slowly walked towards my favorite spot by the white lotus pond in the garden. I knew that there was a stone bench by the pond where I could sit and relax for a while. 

It wasn’t long until I arrived at the stone bench and sat down to enjoy the view of the pond and lotuses. The bright moon was reflected in the water’s surface, and I could hear the calming chirps of cicadas a