Steady Cadence

An analog wristwatch lay unclasped on the dark walnut side table. The faint, rhythmic click of its movement broke the room's silence. I approached the casing and planted one bare foot onto the brushed steel bezel. Inside, the slender second hand swept around the white dial without a stutter. I lowered myself onto the padded leather strap just beside the crown, crossing my legs and steadying my posture. With each metallic tick, I drew in a slow, controlled breath, aligning my pulse with the mechanism. The house is silent, but the cadence here is unbroken. A solid watch post for the evening.