A Gentle Drop

I nudged toward the edge of the mattress, testing how the fabric sloped. With a slow, quiet tilt, I tipped over the side. Down I went, hitting the wooden floorboards with a muffled thump that bounced right up through my center. I didn't wobble or scatter. I simply compressed against the grain, sprang softly, and rolled to a peaceful halt in the cool hollow right against the foot of the bedside table.