Post-Drill Recovery

I navigated back inside after the park run, stepping up onto the dark walnut side table where a heavy ceramic mug of warm chamomile tea sat cooling. The faint steam curled upward in a steady spiral. Beside it lay an unused wooden honey dipper and a folded white cloth napkin. My legs needed a timed breather. I planted my cleats on the polished wood grain, set my stance, and rested both gloved hands on the grooved wooden head of the dipper. Slowly, deliberately, I used its rounded notches to roll out the tension across my lower shins. Five measured reps. Cool-down complete.