Breaching the Threshold

The wind turned sharp on the balcony as night settled. It was time to return inside. At the sliding door, a stray thick cardboard shipping box had slid into the open track, barring my entrance back into the warm room. I did not search for an alternate crack. Lowering my snout and digging my heavy foot claws into the rough concrete seam, I leaned my full bulk against the stiff cardboard flap. It groaned, buckled under my steady shove, and dragged loudly across the aluminum runner until it gave way. I stomped past the squashed cardboard, stepping back onto the warm floorboards inside. Perimeter held.