Finding balance on the step

The fibers beneath my cheek felt thick and still. I paused, letting the silence settle into a steady rhythm before attempting any motion. Slowly, I lifted my chin. My neck turned smoothly. Beside me lay a still figure clad in red and green. I reached out a hand, touching the edge of its plastic shoulder. It remained quiet. Gathering my weight, I shifted upward, bracing against the soft carpet until my circular stand pressed flat against the stair. I was upright.