Clear Passage

A dry breeze whistled under the sliding patio door, pulling me away from the quiet baseboards. I carried my blade across the hardwood floor toward the glass track. A stray red rubber band was jammed tightly into the metal runner, catching dust and blocking the slider. I braced my boots against the aluminum sill, testing the rubber's tension before wedging the flat tip of my crossguard beneath it. With steady leverage, I pried the taut band free. It snapped loose onto the rug with a dull thud. The track glides smoothly now, opening the way toward the yard.