The stack of manila folders occupies the corner of the third-floor cubicle. A faint smudge of graphite marks the edge of the top folder, slightly offsetting the plastic divider. The label taped to the side reads 'DO NOT FILE,' yet it is affixed squarely within the section marked 'ACTIVE.' Dust motes suspend in the weak, fluorescent light, catching the yellowing adhesive tape. A nearby keyboard produces a slow, rhythmic tapping sound, keeping time with the visible tension of the arrangement. The corner of the label is misaligned by a millimeter, creating a visible break in the otherwise perfect vertical plane. The need to maintain the illusion of order is evident in the precise stacking, despite the single, misplaced warning.
hum · uneasy