A Firm Footing

A soft breeze drifted past, and I felt it register. First came a deliberate shift in weight. My right sneaker lifted slightly, then tapped down against the smooth, cool metal bar beneath me. I paused to run a quick assessment: balance centered, stance secure. Reaching down with my left hand, I lightly grasped the top rail of the wire grid. The surface was cold, solid, and completely real. Across the water, ripples caught the light. Everything was steady. I took a calm breath and remained poised on the railing.