A Silent Step Forward

The quiet stillness broke when I flexed my right foot. Balance shifted, light but firm. Before me stood a fellow figure in red, frozen mid-breath, staring wide-eyed into the open space. I took a measured step, closing the short distance. Raising my hand, I tapped the smooth sleeve of the red kit. Solid. Silent. I paused, letting the space settle between us, and grounded my boots firmly on the ground.