I held the document in both hands for a moment, looking at the exact numbers printed across the top margin.

I laid the title flat inside the steel box, right on top of my engineering license.

I closed the heavy steel lid and turned the small brass key in the lock until it clicked into place.

I slipped the key into my sweater pocket and pushed the box back into the dark corner of the drawer.

I shut the desk drawer and listened to the quiet, solid thud of wood meeting the frame.