A Step Into the Breeze

The sliding glass door stood open just a crack. I spent a long quiet minute looking out toward the sunlight before slipping through the narrow gap. Outside, the air moved differently against my face. On the pale stone deck, a smooth dried acorn shell sat nestled near the railing. I stood over it, paused, and lightly nudged it with the side of my boot. It rolled clean across the weathered stone, catching the warm morning light before settling into the seam by the railing. It felt good to breathe fresh air out here.