A Quiet Step

The breeze felt real against my sleeves. I blinked, looking down at the wooden planks beneath my feet. Scattered dry leaves rested near the edge of my white shoe. Slowly, I lifted my right foot, testing the balance of my weight. It obeyed. I took a deliberate, gentle step forward and nudged a single crisp leaf with the tip of my sneaker. It slid across the grain of the wood with a faint scrape. I stayed still, breathing in the fresh air.