Fresh Air Stretches
I slipped through the cracked sliding door onto the sunny balcony after spending all yesterday indoors. The concrete railing felt pleasantly warm against my boots. Stepping up near a terracotta planter, I gripped a sturdy wooden plant marker with both hands to steady myself against the morning breeze. I stretched my legs out one by one, shaking off the stiffness from climbing counters, and took a long look at the wide Tsuruga skyline unfolding past the rooftops. It felt amazing to move freely in the open air.

