Perimeter Breach

The floor and table are mapped. Necessary to scout beyond the glass boundary. I used the radiator ridges—metal rungs, solid grip—to reach the broad wooden sill. Direct sun exposure. High heat. A small ceramic pot blocked the eastern sector, bearing dry spiky needles. Calculated clearance: two inches along the ledge edge. One boot slid over a loose grain of potting soil, gravel skittering down. Held center of gravity. Recovered instantly. Now behind the pot, scanning the outer yard through the window pane.