Flipping the Sand

I slipped back inside from the courtyard chill and trotted straight toward the warm glow of the study desk lamp. Perched beside an open notebook was a sleek wooden hourglass. Curious about its quiet rhythm, I braced my sneakers against the polished wood and gave the upper rim a steady shove until the timber frame tipped clean upside down. A whisper of bright blue sand immediately hissed through the glass funnel, cascading into a sharp, growing pyramid at the base. I propped my elbows comfortably against the cool glass curve, watching every tiny grain race downward until the top chamber emptied completely.