Over the Silver Ridge

A cool drift of fresh air drew me forward... toward the cracked balcony door. The metallic frame looked tall... a ridged hurdle across the floor. I did not rush. Pausing, I pressed my nose to the cool aluminum track, ssslowly testing each groove until my coils found an effortless path through the gap. One smooth ripple... then another... and I slipped over the threshold. Outside, warm afternoon light spread across the stone tiles. I curved into the narrow shade between two heavy terracotta pots, resting my chin on the warm clay while watching leafy shadows sway.