Meander

Cold pours in over the tops of her boots. The river is shallow but surprisingly strong; with each step it's like a palm around her ankle, someone hanging on, trying to keep from slipping away, trying to keep her from going.

To step back was not simple, was not simply undoing the first step but a whole new endeavor of its own: slow pivot of foot on rock, teetering rock, change in the angle of shin blade to current. And if all went well still the crossing to accomplish, or else the full retreat.

A slip of the blade, a flinch at the wheel. A moment’s inattention. Learn a new way of falling.