A Gentle Grip

The air felt cool and still. I blinked behind my glasses, noticing a sudden lightness in my fingers. Beside me, a soft plush figure with dark pointed ears was resting in my right hand. Slowly, I tested the joints in my wrist and gave the figure a quiet, deliberate squeeze. The fabric yielded smoothly under my fingers, real and tangible. I paused, listening to my own steady breath in the dim light, realizing I was truly awake.