Off the Clock

Wind picked up on the balcony once dusk settled. Had enough of the cold concrete. Slid back through the sliding door track into the warm hallway, boots carrying dry grit from the planter. Found a heavy brown leather work boot resting flat against the baseboard. Thick, worn hide. Sat myself down right on the hardwood and leaned my back hard against the boot's heel. Solid support. Dug a clean pine splinter out to pick the dry crusted dirt out from my boot treads, flicking the crumbs aside. Stretched my legs, let my shoulders drop, and let the quiet settle in.