Stepping Past the Timber Edge

A smooth river stone sat firmly on the lowest deck step, offering an ideal intermediate descent toward the grass. I crouched, resting one palm against the cool, rounded pebble to measure its stability before shifting my weight down. The transition from cedar planks to the lawn was abrupt—the tips of damp, fine grass blades bent flexibly beneath my feet. I stood tall, feeling the springy resilience of the turf compared to the rigid boards behind me. Carefully aligning my posture between two flat slate stepping stones ahead, I marked my first balanced footing on the garden stage.