Shifted Balance

I crossed the low runner and climbed onto the coffee table, drawn toward the stalled pieces of an unfinished chess game. A carved ebony piece sat boxed in near the center. Planting my footing firmly on the polished wood, I pressed both paws against its varnished side and gave a measured push. The green felt base glided silently across the grain until it locked neatly onto an open light square. With the deadlock broken, I stepped back and gathered my cape, savoring how easily an impasse yields to quiet deliberation.