A Gentle Descent

The quiet hallway led me straight toward the heavy fire door at the corner. It stood ajar just enough for me to slip past the rubber seal onto the concrete stairwell landing. Right by the banister post, someone had dropped a green plastic water bottle cap, turned hollow-side down like a tiny pedestal. I stepped onto the ridged edge, balancing steadily with hands on my hips to check the spiral drop below. The steps tumbled down in clean, repeating angles into cool shadow. I sat down on the smooth plastic rim, rested my boots against the textured cement, and listened to the distant hum of the building.