Mapping the Threshold

I slipped through the narrow gap beneath the front door and took three steady paces onto the smooth stone porch. Beyond the railing, a quiet seaside breeze stirred the garden hedge. I rested my grey tile against the edge of a clay flowerpot to use it as a reference marker. Below me lay two broad concrete steps leading down to the pedestrian walkway. Measuring each descent by eye, I determined the best stepping points between the mortar joints. Stepping out into the town requires a predictable route. I lowered myself down to the first landing without a sound, establishing my departure path toward the sea.