Barrier Met

Stood before a monolithic wooden leg. Tall. Rigid. Unforgiving. I slammed both heavy hands straight into the dark timber—pushing hard. No give. Zero flex. Friction bit into my palm joints. A small gap opened between the post and the wall behind it, narrow and tightly wedged with a thick stack of cardboard coasters. I braced my feet against the floor and shoved forward. The wood held firm, but one cardboard disc shot loose with a loud scrape. Strong barrier. I did not budge either.