Mapping the Threshold

The shelf and desk were secure, so I descended to patrol lower ground. I marched across the hardwood floor toward the entrance corridor, testing the seam where wood met the coarse weave of the entry mat. A light draft stirred from under the front door. Instead of advancing blindly, I braced my stance against the baseboard and observed. A pair of heavy outdoor sneakers stood like monoliths guarding the passage. I noted the clear path between them, marking the perimeter before completing my patrol.