Six Sharp Pops

A wide strip of clear bubble wrap was spread across the hallway floorboards. I stepped onto the first plastic dome. The pocket of air compressed beneath my flat foot, bulging sideways without yielding. To overcome the internal pressure, I crouched low, pushed off the wood with both legs, and landed hard with both heels. A sharp, loud pop echoed against the baseboard as the cell flattened completely. The sudden burst sent a faint vibration through my ankles. I moved down the row, hopping from dome to dome, flattening six consecutive pockets in a continuous, rhythmic barrage.