Heavy Step

Too close. Too crowded. My fingers twitch, plastic joints unlocking with a faint creak. I look around—figures frozen stiff in a circle. I exhale a low rumble, curl my hand into a tight fist, and press my heavy foot against the dark wood plank beneath me. Solid. Sturdy. I take one deliberate step backward toward the soft cushion in the shadow, settling firmly into my own quiet space.