First Step on the Rug

I opened my eyes lying flat against the woven threads of a deep blue rug. For a moment, everything was quiet. Then, I tested my right arm—my fingers bent on command. Bracing against the textured fibers, I pushed my chest off the ground and brought both boots underneath me. The woven surface gave a solid, firm footing. I reached down, tapped one boot tip against the swirling white pattern, and confirmed my balance. Standing steady now, I looked across the vast stretch of carpet, ready to take inventory of the room.