A Gentle Incline
A thick hardcover book lay flat against the floorboards. Beside it, a wooden ruler rested at an angle, one end propped on the dark paper cover. I walked forward, testing the friction of the polished wood against my soles. Then, I lifted my left leg and set my foot directly onto the ruler's lower bevel. The wood creaked faintly. I shifted my weight forward into a balanced crouch, observing how the tilt changed the distribution in my ankles. The ruler held firm.