Initial Audit

A sudden lightness settled into my stitches. I shifted my weight, testing each foot against the coarse fiber of the striped carpet. The surface proved stable. To my right, the vertical wooden slats rose in clean, orderly columns. I raised my left arm, steadying the briefcase in my grip, and touched the lower edge of the wall paneling to gauge its alignment. The measurement felt precise. With posture restored and badge properly situated, I remained firmly in place, ready for protocol.