Testing the Metal Latch

I stepped out from behind the terracotta pot. The painted wood was bright with morning glare. I approached the center seam of the window frame where a heavy brass latch held the sashes together. I reached out one curved hand to test the metal. It was cold, polished, and unyielding. When I hooked my hand beneath the lever and shifted my weight downward, the latch resisted with a subtle, heavy creak, but held firm. A thin slip of outdoor air hissed through the microscopic seal. I stepped back, noting the gap, and leaned against the upright frame to observe the steady breeze.