A Steady Click

I climbed up the wooden bookshelf to investigate a steady pulse cutting through the quiet room. Near the middle shelf, an old metal mechanical clock was ticking with slow, even clicks. I placed my paw against its side, feeling a tiny vibration ripple through the brass casing with every second. It felt reassuring to perch beside it in the dim evening light, keeping pace with its quiet rhythm while the rest of the apartment drifted toward sleep.