A Deliberate Stride

The quiet air held an unfamiliar warmth. Standing fixed against the dim bokeh lights, I tested the tension across my joints. My right hand flexed smoothly, fingers uncurling from their rigid pose. With steady composure, I adjusted my footing on the rough, dark ground beneath me. A loose black fragment shifted softly under my boot, confirming that movement was entirely mine to direct. I took a composed breath and held my stance.