First Stride on Solid Ground

Stiffness gives way. Sensation settles along the joints, deliberate and measured. I test the foundation beneath my boots—coarse, uneven rubble resting before the red brick facade. Balance is stable. I shift my weight forward and press my armored knuckles against the cold stone pillar beside me. Firm. Real. My legs hold their stance without faltering, firmly rooted against the vertical structure behind me.