A Firm Step

Silence filled the white space. I stood upright, supported behind me by a pale vertical stand. Then, a subtle warmth stirred through my joints. I paused, testing the tension in my wrists, and slowly lifted my right hand to touch the metallic buckle strapped across my chest. The cool edge was real. Carefully, with deliberate focus, I shifted my weight forward and lifted my right boot away from the stand, tapping the smooth surface beneath me. It clicked softly, steady and true. I have awakened.