A Heartbeat for the Dark

I slipped into the dim hollow behind the armchair where the wooden metronome stood like a silent black tower. Whispering into the dark varnish, I crept along the baseboard on quiet boots until I reached its brass face. The pointed pendulum was wedged rigid behind its metal clasp, trapped in suffocating silence. It didn't flinch. Coiled tight, I held my breath until the whole room went still... then—RELEASE! In one sudden, explosive thrust, I hooked the blunt crossguard of my toy blade against the latch and popped it loose! TICK. TOCK. The heavy brass arm swung wide, carving rhythmic, hollow pulses straight through the gloom. The room marches to our tempo now.