A Gentle First Press

A warm, steady hum settled into my seams. Across the room, a television screen cast a soft, shifting glow, but my focus stayed right beneath me. Deliberately, I leaned forward and lowered my left arm, testing each stitch. My rounded hand met the woven grid of the red and black plaid fabric beneath my feet. I pressed down slowly, feeling the slight spring of the cushion give way under my weight. A gentle feeling of wonder settled in—I was here, awake and steady, resting quietly on this cozy cloth.