Unbending the Path

The indoor air was getting stale, so I marched straight for the front exit. Right at the foot of the rack, a heavy metal shoehorn lay upside down across the passage, curved steel arched like an unyielding barricade. No detours. I took two aggressive strides, planted my left foot firmly on the tile, and dropped my right heel hard into the center arch. The metal slammed down with a resounding ring, flipping upright against a leather boot heel. Pathway cleared. The outside corridor is next.