First Step on the Track

My legs stiffened, then flexed. One! Two! I pressed my flat cardboard feet against the ridged fabric beneath me. It had deep zigzag tracks running in every direction—like a maze or a sprint course. I pushed forward, testing my balance against the soft knit weave. Right beside me, a purple cutout rested quietly. I reached out, tapped its edge with my hand, and felt the surface give just a little. Ready to go!