Grid Cadence

The wind off the open diamond picked up, rattling the chain-link backstop in steady, repeating bursts. I stepped closer to the galvanized metal posts. A detached steel cable tie hung near the bottom rail, swinging in rhythm with the gusts like a pendulum. I timed the sway. Instead of rushing past, I mirrored the motion, planting my cleats into the packed limestone dust with every third rattle. Drop step, plant, reset. Matching cadence with an unmoving wall forces you to control your breath. The fence hummed against the chill; my rhythm held steady.