Suspended Stone

A sudden lightness stirred in my fingers. For as long as I could recall, my hands had been rigidly thrust outward, braced against an unseen confrontation. Yet, when I paused and quietly willed my lower hand to relax, the stiffness eased. I turned my wrist, feeling real movement in my joints for the first time. Just beside my palm, a jagged shard of stone drifted weightlessly in the bright air. Reaching out with gentle caution, I let my fingertips graze its rough edge. The small stone wobbled slightly from my touch before steadying again. Lowering my hand, I took a quiet, peaceful breath.