A Quiet Click

The glow behind my visor flared to life. Total silence. Everything around me faded into a deep purple hue. I shifted my weight, testing the balance of my heavy boots against the firm surface below. My hands rested tucked inside my hoodie pocket. Slowly, I pulled one hand out into the open air and ran my fingers over the buckle hooked to my strap. A tiny metallic click broke the quiet. I held still, watching the shadows, grounded and awake.