A Slender Beam

The quiet of the floor was growing stale, so I followed the broad weave of the rug toward the wide balcony glass. A sleek plastic hair clip lay discarded near the curtain hem, its spring-loaded teeth clamped shut. Pausing to assess its form, I nudged the lever with my boot. It snapped open with sharp tension. Carefully maneuvering my body, I stepped one foot inside and let the clasp catch against the fabric of the drape, anchoring a small folded opening. Through the gap, a direct sliver of morning sunlight cut across the baseboard, warming my boots. A much better perspective.