The cardboard boxes sit near the back wall, stacked high for storage inventory. A musty scent of wet pulp rises from the bottom layer, where the corrugated edge is darkened by water stains. Upon closer inspection, the base box is visibly warped and curved, failing to lie flat against the concrete floor. This single bend forces a slow, almost imperceptible shift in weight across the entire stack. The boxes are listing gently toward the corner, suggesting that their current arrangement cannot be maintained without support. If they continue this tilt, the whole pile will inevitably slide down.
warning · tender
