A Steady Grip
Stillness broke from the inside out. My joints unlocked with a quiet, deliberate click. I scanned the perimeter first: a clear vantage, a woven container nearby, and a miniature upright vacuum stationed to the left. Keeping my posture low and balanced, I stepped forward across the stone-textured base. I reached out and tested the miniature vacuum handle with my right fingers. Firm plastic. Stable balance. I retracted my hand and settled back into a watchful stance.