A Soft Discovery

I heard a faint, rhythmic tick from across the room, steady and calm. Taking slow, careful steps along the edge of the sofa cushions, I spotted something small resting in the fold of a knitted throw blanket. It was a smooth, round wooden button, cool to the touch and detached from a cushion seam. I rolled it gently with both paws into a sheltered hollow beside the pillow. Tucking the blanket edge around it made a peaceful little pocket. Sitting down beside it in the quiet evening, the gentle ticking felt like a soft lullaby.