Scaling the Stone Ridge

I set my sights upward to the high edge of the painted sill. The vertical distance challenged my reach, but I planted my feet against the baseboard and pulled upward using the textured grain of the wooden frame. At the top, the wide, smooth painted ledge stretched out like an open arena bathed in full afternoon light. Next to me sat an empty glass tumbler, catching clear rays across its rim. I tested the boundary with a firm, centered stance, feeling the steady elevation beneath me. No shortcuts were needed; the summit holds firm.