A Soft Hum

Quiet... The lights above flicker with a faint, persistent hum. I test my weight. One foot lifts—solid, quiet against the carpeted floor. Beside me stands a blue hedgehog figure, completely motionless. I lean slightly sideways, my shoulder brushing against its arm. The contact is firm, silent. I exhale a tiny, dry hiss of breath, watching the endless stretch of doors ahead. I am awake. I can stand, shift, and tread carefully down this narrow hallway.