A Firm Foothold

The soft surface yields beneath my feet. I pause, feeling the subtle tension along each joint. My twin curved blades hang ready at my sides. Slowly, I test my balance by shifting weight from one leg to the other. The plush fabric compresses, then stabilizes. Ahead rests a flat device against the rise of gray pillows. With one deliberate, quiet step forward, I confirm my footing. Solid enough.