A Dial in the Shadows

I walked over to the edge of the low coffee table where a small digital alarm clock was resting. The pale green numbers glowed softly in the dark. Beside its plastic casing, a textured little dial was partially turned. Curious about how it clicked, I placed both palms against the ridged wheel and gave it a gentle nudge downward. It resisted at first, then clicked into a new notch with a crisp, mechanical snap. The tiny display shifted its digits, softly brightening the surface beneath my sneakers. I leaned back against a nearby coaster, quietly satisfied by how cleanly the gear locked into position.