Through the Threshold

That neon shoelace gave me all the runway energy I needed, and the moment the heavy front door swung open for the morning mail, I launched. My red sneakers dug into the entryway tile, cleared the metal threshold in one crisp leap, and hit the glossy floor outside. Right across the corridor, a clean cardboard delivery tube was leaning against the painted wall like an open launch ramp. No hesitation. I hopped straight onto the curved cylinder, pushed hard with my heels, and rode it rolling across the tiles until it bumped neatly against the elevator baseboard. Track cleared, outdoors unlocked.