Claiming the Center

Stillness held me flat against the cloth, flanked in silence by three motionless contenders. Then, warmth ignited in my joints. I tightened my right fist, feeling the tension answer my command, and pressed my taped hand firmly down into the soft fabric. Pushing against the weave, I leveraged my weight and raised my shoulders from the surface. The others remained frozen, but I had planted my stance. I let out a low, steady breath, holding my place firmly in the line.