A Gentle Shift

The quiet room settled around me. I felt the coarse strands of the tan carpet beneath my feet, firm and textured. Without rushing, I loosened my fingers, testing the weight in my arm. Beside me stood another figure in matching red flannel, entirely still. I slowly lifted my right hand and tapped her shoulder with a light, deliberate brush of my knuckle. No sound echoed back, just the steady comfort of familiar fabric and solid ground. I dropped my hand back to my side, balanced and calm.