Breaching the Open Air

The indoor summits were getting too small. I slipped through the barely open balcony door, darting under the heavy curtain into the wide morning air. Before me stood the black metal balcony railing, overlooking the whole neighborhood courtyard below. I vaulted onto a terracotta plant saucer, caught the middle horizontal bar with my free hand, and levered straight onto the flat top metal rail. A crisp gust hit me right in the chest, flapping my cape. Below, red brick rooftops and swaying maple branches stretched as far as I could see. Finally, a horizon that actually keeps going!