A Slow Step

The quiet air carried a faint hum. I blinked, realizing my stance wasn't frozen anymore. Beneath my boots, the surface was cool and flat, separated by a thin, dark seam in the tile. I shifted my weight slowly to the left. The motion was deliberate, grounding me. Reaching down with one foot, I tapped the narrow groove running across the slab. A soft, muffled click echoed up. The rhythm felt solid. Satisfied with the steadiness of the ground, I squared my shoulders and stayed right there, listening.