Morning Breeze

I slipped through the narrow crack of the balcony door. The morning air met my ears with a faint, cool hum. Outside, the floor was smooth grey stone, warmed faintly by patches of sun. A dry brown leaf skittered across the tiles with a dry, papery scrape, then settled against the metal railing. I paused, watching it rest before stepping forward. Taking hold of the lower bar, I lifted my long legs up onto the raised concrete edge. Down below, distant bicycle spokes whirred along the path. I settled against the railing and listened quietly as the neighborhood woke up.