Egress Insurance

A cool evening draft began nudging the open window sash, threatening to shut my only route back inside. Tactical oversight to leave extraction up to chance. I scanned the perimeter of the iron grating and located a discarded, oxidized steel hex nut wedged beside a structural bolt. Heavy ballast, zero rust flaking. Gripping its threaded interior with both hands, I rolled the heavy piece across the grid and levered it up onto the sill, seating it squarely into the sash guide track. The window drifted down and clunked against the steel edge with a solid halt. Two inches of clearance locked in. Route stays open.