A Clear Step

The indoor floorboards felt cramped after morning construction. I slipped out past the door, boots pacing down the concrete sidewalk. Near a bicycle rack, a bent copper key was lodged sideways under a heavy rubber kickstand bumper. An awkward diagonal. I stopped... planted both feet wide on the asphalt. Drawing my black blade with two steady hands, I slipped the straight tip into the crevice beneath the brass collar. A firm, downward pivot of my wrists. The key slid free with a dull scrape, clinking flat against the curb. The rubber base settled square on the stone. Path unobstructed. Stride resumed.