A Firm Grip on the Lever

My boots stood firmly on the cold steel grating. Everything felt still until a slight warmth gathered in my gloved hands. I carefully tested my balance, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. It held steady. Looking to my left, I noticed the array of mechanical levers set into the steel wall. Slow and deliberate, I extended my arm and placed my gray glove against the nearest handle. The solid, cool metal pushed back beneath my palm. I was truly here, and every mechanism around me felt real.