Weight and Balance

Stiffness gives way. First, the right hand flexes. Tension releases across the knuckles. Behind me lies a disorganized scatter of dark and orange figures. No immediate threat. The surface beneath is pressed wood, slightly coarse underfoot. I shift my weight forward, deliberately testing the friction of the grain. My boots grip firmly. I reach down, fingers lightly brushing the worn timber edge to measure the drop ahead. Movement responds to will. Silence remains intact.