A Firm Tap and Stand

The cool texture of concrete pressed against my back until a sudden spark hummed inside me. I blinked, lifted my white-gloved hand, and gave my boots a test flex. With a steady roll forward, I pushed up onto my feet, perfectly vertical! Beside me stood a little orange number friend, also resting on the rough stone. I reached out and gently tapped its head—click! Everything felt aligned, solid, and wonderfully in place under the midday sky.