Breaching the Threshold

Night brought a sharp draft under the rubber seal of the big door. The clearance looked tight. Dropped flat onto my stomach against the cold concrete slab, boots kicked out behind me. A torn, stiff strip of black weatherstripping hung down, blocking the sliver of evening asphalt outside. Reached up with both hands, hooked fingers under the dense rubber flap, and hauled down to widen the breach. Gritted my teeth and elbowed forward through the gap until my head and shoulders cleared the bottom edge. Cold night air hit my face. Driveway gravel stretches out under the stars. Outside at last.