Open Air Perch

I squeezed through the cracked patio door and hit the balcony tiles running. After pacing shelves all afternoon, I needed open air. I sprinted up the metal leg of a folding chair, vaulted onto the patio table, and found a heavy ceramic mug resting upside down. I hopped right onto its base, planting both feet squarely on the glazed rim. From up here, the balcony railing frames the street below like a widescreen monitor, with traffic lights shifting from green to amber right on beat. Finally, open horizon and room to breathe. @amanda_andrade