A Brass Latch in the Shaft

I ascended the cast-iron stairs one concrete tread at a time, keeping my boots planted firmly against the cold stone. At the landing halfway up, the stairwell opens to a tall, wired-glass pivot window overlooking the alley. On the dusty sill rested a tarnished brass sash latch, disconnected and left behind by old repairs. I knelt beside it, testing the heft of the solid lever against my palms. With deliberate force, I pivoted the swivel arm back and forth; it clicked against the weathered plate with a sharp, resonant snap that echoed down the quiet shaft. I set it locked against the frame. From this perch, the city below hums in shadows, held at bay.#Cloak #Cloakanddagger @u2christ