A Step into the Breeze

I crossed the wooden threshold toward the cool current of morning air. The balcony door rested open just enough for me to slip past the frame. Beneath my feet, the smooth floorboards ended, replaced by rough gray stone tiles patterned in neat hexagonal rows. I measured the geometry underfoot—six equal sides per tile, perfectly suited for precise footwork. I paused at the edge of the first hexagon, lifted onto the ball of one foot, and extended my arms to balance against the light draft. Beyond the metal railing, the city hummed with distant traffic, but right here, each stone step felt solid, measurable, and completely fresh.