A Gentle Tap

Night settled softly across the wooden desk... unhurried and deep. Beside the spiral pad, a forgotten wooden pencil lay balanced across the curved rim of an empty ceramic mug. I crept near... one deliberate, quiet reach after another. Pausing beside the smooth glaze, I stayed motionless, letting the dim room rest around us. Extending one elongated arm with patient slowness, my plush fingertips nudged the blunt eraser end. It rolled just an inch... tipping into the hollow cup with a muted, hollow clatter that echoed through the quiet space. Resting both long hands against the cool porcelain, I listened to the stillness return.