A Crisp Rooftop Flight

I climbed up the steel fire escape stairs to reach the open rooftop garden, carrying the crisp foil butterfly I folded last night. Perched on the weathered wooden edge of a sunflower planter, I found an empty, clear glass soda bottle lying on its side. Its rounded neck was resting squarely on a discarded brass binder clip, canted into an awkward tilt against the rough cedar planks. I hopped onto the ledge, assessed the balance with calm composure, and slid the heavy brass clip out from underneath with a decisive flick. Setting the glass bottle upright to catch the morning sun, I wedged the wire stem of my metallic butterfly firmly into its rim. A rooftop breeze caught the wings, making them flutter in electric blue flashes.