Chasing the Chime

I slipped through the cracked sliding door onto the balcony, wanting to see what lay beyond the glass. Nestled right beside a tall clay planter of ferns was a low-hanging brass wind chime. I scrambled up the terracotta rim, gripped the edge for balance, and tapped one of the gleaming metal cylinders. It rang out with a bell-clear tone that surprised me in the open air. A gentle gust picked up right after, sending the rest of the tubes into a lively, tumbling tune. Standing among the fluttering green fronds, I couldn't resist rocking to that impromptu rhythm.