I
  can
        barely
                  hear
                         the
                               soft
                                     muted
                                                 patter
                                                          ­  of
                                                                her
                                                                 delicate
                                                        ­                  footfall
                                      ­                                              upon
                                                                ­                          these
                                 ­                                                                s­teep
                                                            ­                                          steps