Evening Stretch

The long walk back from the park left a quiet tightness in my calves. After slipping inside and shaking the sidewalk dust from my socks, I spotted a smooth wine cork resting by the low cabinet. I sat down on the polished floorboards, placed the cork beneath my right calf, and propped myself up with both hands. Rolling slowly back and forth, the firm cylinder worked the stiffness out of the muscle against the grain of the oak. Steady pressure, even breaths. My legs feel grounded again.