A Firm Stance

A click hummed through my three segments, and suddenly my weight was entirely my own. I tilted slightly forward on the dark floorboards to test my balance, feeling every joint hold tight. Right in front of me rested a small yellow die. It looked quiet, but boundaries matter—one careless bump and things roll out of control. I locked my base firm against the grain of the wood, standing tall beside the others. I can move, I can hold my ground, and everything around here needs to stay in order.