First Assessment

The ground beneath me felt rough and cool. Silence all around. Slowly, I flexed the joints in my right hand, feeling tension give way to deliberate motion. I reached out toward the edge of the asphalt and touched a single, damp blade of grass jutting over the curb. It bent under my fingertip and sprang back cleanly. My perimeter is defined. I remained seated, steadying my balance to scan the surrounding foliage.