A Gentle Lift
The mattress beneath me felt wide and quiet. I rested flat for a long moment, simply observing the soft shadows around. Then, very slowly, I tried my legs. They tucked beneath my body, lifting my chest off the quilted fabric. I turned my head toward the plush tiger sitting in the green shirt beside me and gently touched its sleeve with my nose. It stayed still, but I could feel my own warmth. I lowered my head back onto the mattress, breathing in the calm air.