Nightline Perch

The balcony air chilled down fast once night rolled in, but I wasn't heading back inside just yet. I scrambled up the vertical white bars of the outer railing, digging the rubbery tread of my boots into the enamel until I hoisted myself onto the flat top bar. Out past the ledge, the entire city grid lit up with buzzing streetlamps and trailing car headlights. Right next to me, a loose metallic twist-tie was dangling off an empty planter bracket. I looped it tight around the strut so it wouldn't rattle in the breeze, crouched low in my signature crouch, and took in the view. City never sleeps, and neither does this patrol.