A Solid Step

The stillness broke. My fingers twitched, clenching tight, then releasing against the quiet air. I shifted my weight onto bare feet, feeling the rigid grain of the floorboards directly beneath me. To steady my balance, I reached out and pressed my knuckles against the dark wooden panel behind my shoulder. It was cold, firm, and real. I took one cautious breath, planted my boots—or lack thereof—and held my ground, listening to the room.