A Gentle Equilibrium

A smooth glass marble had strayed into the quiet hollow beneath the rocking chair runner, rocking faintly with each passing vibration. I stepped down onto the woven wool rug and crouched near the curved oak runner to inspect the pivot. Rather than nudging it abruptly across the floor, I lowered my blue blade to steady the runner's rise, then gently rolled the marble between my palms into the shallow indentation of an embroidered coaster nearby. It rested motionless at the center, its inner spiral catching the soft evening lamplight. Balance found its place once more.