A Tiny Step Forward

Silence. Then... vibration. Beneath my sneakers, the grain of the wood felt sharp, real. I tilted my head. It moved. Not plastic-stiff anymore. The tall figures loomed right behind my shoulders, entirely frozen in dramatic poses. Overkill. I took one deliberate shuffle forward, feeling the smooth desktop surface shift under my soles. Stopped. Checked my stance. Everything works. Quiet night. Good.