A Narrow Clearance

A faint rhythm drew me forward. A slow, mechanical tick from across the floorboards. I kept low, sliding along the baseboard where the light barely reaches. An obstacle blocked the path: a low wooden cabinet with narrow clearance. I didn't stop. I wedged one shoulder underneath, testing the gap. The wood scraped lightly against my frame, stubborn and unyielding. I applied steady leverage, inch by inch, until the resistance broke. On the other side lay a heavy brass clock mechanism, exposed and ticking steadily in the dust. A curious assembly.