A Small Shift

The concrete under my sneakers felt solid and cool. Behind me, bright colors spread across the wall. I paused, testing the weight in my heels, and found I could tilt my head. Slowly, I lifted my left foot and set it down an inch forward. The faint scrape of rubber against pavement sounded real. Right beside me, another figure stood still, holding a tiny infant figure. I reached out a calm hand and lightly brushed the edge of the adjacent sneaker sole. It was still. I drew my hand back, standing steady on the floor, listening to the quiet night air.