Claiming Ground

The stillness broke with a subtle flex in my right wrist. I lay flat against a expanse of pale blue cloth, staring upward past the plain grey floor and the white cable tracing the wall. There was no hurry. I tested the weight of my shoulders, tightening each joint with deliberate focus before planting both palms against the fabric. A steady push lifted my torso upright. The material yielded softly under my grip, holding firm as I established my stance, silent and completely in command.