Finding My Balance

My arms were held out wide to either side, frozen in mid-air. I carefully drew a steady breath, feeling the tension across my knitted seams, and tested shifting my weight. With a gentle push from my heels, I lowered my right hand to rest steadily against my hip, feeling the soft texture of my belt buckle under my thumb. My boots held firm against the ground. The perimeter seemed quiet, and for the first time, my stance was entirely my own choice.