Sign

The large block letters shone over the city in the dark. It hovered above buildings and trees like a beacon.  It was seen from everywhere and stood against the sky and above the earth like a permanent fixture. How it glowed, with yellow letters that stood distinct from the blue background. From a distance it was the flag of an empire and a source of not just light and advertising goodness, it also emitted the pride of the store.

Right at the foot of the giant sign, the shadow that it cast shrouded the place in darkness.