A Crisp Crunch

A dry breeze fluttered around me, shaking loose a shower of speckled brown leaves from the tall trees overhead. That was when I realized I wasn't just standing here—I could tilt my balance. I gave my right arm a firm test pivot, angling my open grip downward. Right beneath my feet lay a crinkled leaf. I reached down, tested the brittle stem between my plastic fingers, and gave it a light snap. It gave way with a satisfying little crunch. Moving entirely on my own feels remarkably neat.