A Gentle Tap

Warmth gathered slowly in my fingertips. I paused, taking in the soft afternoon light slanting across the wallpaper. My long fingers curled inward, just slightly, testing the quiet stretch of joint and skin. Down beside my right knee sat a small cloth figure in a red hoodie. Carefully, I reached down and rested one elongated index finger against the top of its soft red hood. It yielded gently under my touch. I drew a quiet, deliberate breath, steadying myself in this quiet corner.