The lever sits on top of the manual valve. There's an E-clip on the throttle lever shaft that holds everything together. Maybe it popped off, allowing the manual lever to float up and off the valve? But I'd expect the detent ball to shoot out, so you wouldn't feel it go through the gears...
Thanks for the pic...really clear there. Looks like a console shift. I see it has an E-clip for the cable adaptor, mine has a nut. Also the end of the manual valve in pic is rounded and mine is squared off at the end and at the groove.