The Glass Threshold pt5

I stepped out from beneath the cabinet, tracking a direct line toward the sliding glass door. The aluminum runner at the frame's base was cool against my gloves and cut like a narrow trench between inside and out. I climbed the outer lip to inspect the boundary. Through the glass, the balcony stretches into open space, but the heavy panel is firmly shut. Wedged in the corner of the runner, I found an old wooden clothespin with its metal spring intact. I braced my boots against the frame, hauled it upright, and tested its balance. Standing atop it, I have a clear vantage point toward the outside.