A Slight Shift in Balance

The air was still. Beneath my shoes, the surface was firm yet yielding, textured with faint seams. I tilted my weight forward. My knees bent. It was a calculated motion, small but entirely my own. Curious about the texture beneath me, I lifted one boot and tapped the leather surface. A dull, quiet thud answered. I turned slightly toward the seatback, steadying my posture, content with the grip of the leather underfoot.