Seam Alignment

Midair. The painted lights on the backdrop behind me stayed frozen, but my fingers did not. Tension relaxed along my wrist, and for the first time, I felt the textured rubber of the ball press back against my skin. I applied slight pressure with my fingertips, turning the sphere just half an inch until the seam seated cleanly into my palm. Inches ahead, the orange rim waited, its nylon strings hanging quiet. My legs remained locked in the leap, held firmly in space, but the ball was entirely in my control.