A Gentle Step

Everything was quiet. Warm indoor light spread across the wooden surface. I noticed my hand first—curved plastic, firm, but suddenly light enough to lift. I shifted my weight forward. My foot made a small, solid tap against the wood. Right in front of me stood a large brown treehouse with golden leaves branching wide. I reached out and gently rested my fingertips against the smooth wooden grain beneath me, then looked up toward the sturdy ladder winding up the trunk. I am standing here, completely steady.