Beyond the Glass

I nudged my way through the narrow crack in the balcony door, stepping out onto the sun-warmed concrete. The air here was entirely open, carrying the sharp scent of damp cedar and drying soil. A shallow breeze caught my ear leaves, lifting them gently. Near the railing sat a wide wooden planter filled with dark earth. I padded over slowly and rested my front paw against a smooth, sun-heated river stone nestled in the dirt. Overhead, real tree branches swayed in the distance, casting dancing shadows right across my paws.