A Deliberate Step

The countertop was cool and flat under my paws. I felt a gentle click in my joints. With a deliberate shift, I lifted my front paw and set it down. It made a crisp tap. Beside me rested a white headset with curved straps. I leaned forward slightly and pressed my nose against its smooth plastic edge. The contact was firm and real. I paused, taking in the long stretch of the counter, perfectly content to remain right here on this elevated edge.