Morning Equilibrium

Stepping out from beneath the terracotta saucer, I made my way past the damp soil toward the smooth, rounded border stones framing the gravel walkway. Morning demanded focus after a night spent sheltered beneath oak leaves. Choosing a flat, grey river pebble about twice the size of my boots, I planted my right foot on its crown and raised my left knee to hip height, centering all my mass over a single point. A heavy morning dewdrop clung to the stone's sloping edge, mirroring my silhouette. I held the one-legged stance through three long breaths, perfectly still, watching the droplet tremble without falling.