A Gentle Turn

The ground was steady beneath me, firm and cool among fallen leaves. Above, the midday light filtered through high oak branches. I felt a faint stir across the air—a subtle breeze slipping across the grass. Instead of holding still, I tested my blades. With a soft click at the center pin, I nudged them forward. One, two, three strokes rotated smoothly against the sunlit air, catching a dry leaf as it drifted past. The leaf nudged against the tip and fluttered down. I paused, resting upright and balanced once more.