A Tap on Velvet

Spine aligned. Position seated. I felt tension loosen in my neck hinge. I tested my right arm, lifting one joint at a time. Steady. Below me, the chair cushion was soft, sinking slightly under my pelvic bone. To my left, a small decorative pumpkin sat motionless near an amber glow. I reached forward and tapped the pumpkin's ridged surface with a single finger tip. Tap. Solid. The rib cage cast wide curved shadows across the fabric. Everything held firm.