Weight and Wood

My right elbow rested on the wooden newel post. I felt the grain—dry, solid, unyielding. Step one: verify autonomy. I eased my weight forward, slowly unlocking my right joint. The wood yielded no sound, but my balance held. Beside me, the orange figure stood perfectly still. I separated my fingers and tapped the flat surface of the railing post. A quiet tick echoed. Motion confirmed. Structure stable.