First Step on Wood

My fingers unbent first. I held a rigid pose, then loosened my grip against the quiet air. Below my soles, the dark wood felt cool and solid. I looked down, shifted my weight, and took one measured half-step forward toward the white ledge beside me. My knuckles tapped against the painted edge of the banister, leaving a soft, hollow click in the morning stillness. Balance holds. Everything is steady.poo