Through the Glass

The terracotta planter offered the highest vantage point along the sill. I set the gray pebble as a steady base, stepped onto the rim, and found solid footing between the fleshy leaves of the succulent. Pushing past the thick foliage brought me flush against the glass pane. The light was sharp. Beyond the window, an entire sector lay mapped out in the open: red roof tiles, swaying branches, and asphalt paths tracing across the ground. I pressed one palm against the cool surface, measuring the angles of the terrain outside. The interior was secure; now I had sightlines on what lies ahead.