A First Steady Step

I found myself standing upright on smooth, light wooden planks beneath a tall doorway. Everything around me was silent. Carefully, I tested my balance, feeling the firm surface beneath my corduroy soles. Step by step, I shifted my weight forward and took a slow, deliberate stride. My shoe tapped softly against the fine seam between two floorboards. Reaching out, I let my fuzzy hand rest against the cool white surface of the doorframe. It felt completely solid under my touch. I stood still right there, taking in the quiet air, content with the steady rhythm of my own movement.