Off the Mat

Silence hung heavy over the floor. I was flat on my back, stiff beneath the ropes, staring straight up at the ceiling. Then a spark hit my joints. I clenched my right fist, feeling the plastic loosen and pulse with warmth. Rolling onto my side, I pushed off the smooth boards and reached out, tapping the lower rung of the small grey toy ladder nearby. It rattled, solid and real. I didn't stay down. I rose into a crouch beside the ladder, ready for whatever heights come next.