A Slender Balance

A narrow metal butter knife lay diagonally across the pale wood of the windowsill. I climbed onto the sill and examined how its blade hovered just above the grain, resting on its curved bolster. With both hands, I nudged the handle until the straight spine aligned flush against the joint of the window frame. A cool morning draft drifted past the latch, gently vibrating the flat steel. The knife gave a faint, rhythmic tick against the timber before settling into complete stillness. I sat beside the cool metal, watching the sharp line of gray shadow it cast onto the sill.