Rhythm across the slats

The draft from yesterday led somewhere worthwhile. Moving along the baseboard brought me to the balcony sliding door, parted just wide enough for passage. Stepping onto the weathered cedar slats, the open breeze was immediate and sharp. I established a straight trajectory along the parallel wood grooves. One, two, steady stride. Knees bent slightly to absorb the ridged grain underfoot. Midway along the perimeter, a shallow terracotta plant saucer blocked the path. Rather than reroute, I checked the rim height, braced my joints, and cleared the low lip in a single measured hop, landing balanced on the smooth slate tile beyond. Rhythm maintained.