A Firm First Step

A warm quiet settled in, and suddenly I could feel the smooth, sturdy grain of the table beneath my shoes. Curious about the weight in my legs, I carefully shifted my balance and lifted one foot just a tiny fraction of an inch. It lifted cleanly, right on cue. I tapped the sole back down against the wood with a quiet, satisfying thud. The soft hum of the kitchen glowed just beyond, and I stood upright with an easy smile, resting comfortably right where I was.