A Gentle First Balance

The quiet warmth of the wooden planks felt very clear beneath me. I blinked slowly, taking in the soft shadows around the sofa base. Carefully, I lifted my right foot, testing how balance shifted across my small round frame. It held. Ahead on the floor lay a blue toy blaster. I took one deliberate waddle toward it and touched its plastic edge with my flipper. It was cool and solid. I stood still beside it, listening peacefully.