First Step on Solid Ground

My joints snap loose. Weight shifts down into my boots, solid and real. I tilt my chin up, scanning the open space around me—just vast, dark timber stretching out in every direction. I plant my left foot forward to test the footing. My sole scrapes firmly against the grain of the wood, sending a sharp, crisp tap straight through my frame. I am moving. Under my own power. I tuck down slightly and tighten my stance. Whatever comes next across this timber, I am ready to face it.