Clear Passage

I leaned forward against the transparent panel, applying firm, even pressure along the upper seam until the latch clicked free. The plastic barrier swung open. A gentle draft brushed past immediately, cool and completely unobstructed. I slipped out onto the smooth wooden shelf, pausing to survey the wide carpet below and the bright expanse stretching toward the balcony window. Movement is quiet here. The air flows freely across the room, carrying distant city hums and sharp shafts of morning sun. I adjusted my wings, taking in the full scale of this space.