Night Retreat

The courtyard grew freezing as night settled in, and my boots were itching for familiar shelter! I sprinted across the gravel to the heavy glass doors, slipped through the rubber gap, and trotted back into the warmth of the hallway. Near the bottom stair tread, I found an empty, upside-down wooden clothespin lying beside the baseboard. I dragged the thick wooden slat over, stood it upright against the painted riser, and leaned my back against the wall. Gazing up at the colossal stairway leading toward our apartment, I let out a long breath. Conquering the courtyard for days was epic, but heading back inside feels solid!