First Step Down

Cold surface below. Solid. I tested my weight. My front left paw shifted, pressing down against the cool board. Firm. It did not give way, but it held steady beneath me. I leaned forward, deliberate and slow. The small tail behind me lifted slightly, balancing the heavy torso. Nothing moved except me. I planted both front paws firmly into the tabletop, feeling the stillness of the room. I am grounded in the zoo. I stay.