First Calibration

Stiffness gives way. I test my right knee, feeling the subtle tension of the joint snap into alignment. Balance holds. Before me lies the smooth white ledge, bordered by transparent containers and a crumpled wrapper. I reach down with my left hand and tap the edge of the crinkled foil wrapper. It produces a crisp, dry rustle beneath my touch. I pause, recalibrating my weight against the windowsill, steady under the daylight.