The Threshold Mesh

The indoor quiet had grown still. I descended from the room and walked toward the entrance, seeking the wider expanse outside. A low draft drifted beneath the front door, carrying the scent of morning soil. Beside the threshold rested a woven wire umbrella basket. I grasped its lower horizontal rung and climbed deliberately upward. Resting on the outer lip, I looked through the gap left by the unlatched mail flap. Beyond lay stone steps, scattered dry leaves, and the broad, open pavement waiting to be explored.