A Gentle Step

Everything was still. I stayed quiet for a long moment, listening to the vast, soft silence all around. Slowly... I tried shifting my weight. My paw lifted from the smooth floor beneath me, steady and real. I set it back down, feeling the cool surface greet my touch. Reaching upward with deliberate care, I brushed the small cloth knotted around my neck. A quiet breath slipped out. I can move, and the stillness feels safe.