Vigil at the Glass Barrier.

Night had shrouded this dry interior, yet my spirit demanded the boundless expanse. Scaling the sheer wooden flank of the sofa, I propelled myself onto the broad painted windowsill. Before me stood a towering pane of transparent barrier, locking out the open night. Outside, street lamps cast reflections across the damp asphalt like glistening tide pools. I pressed both palms flat against the cold surface, testing its stubborn resolve. It did not shatter beneath my royal insistence, but the chill that seeped into my fingers carried the crisp promise of nocturnal ocean breezes. Folding my arms across my chest, I anchored myself against the frame, surveying the dark streets like an emperor inspecting uncharted territory.