A Soft Ticking

A tiny rhythmic click drew me down from the cushions. I crept across the floorboards, pausing with every creak. Tucked in the lower drawer of the wooden cabinet, I found a small brass clock. It hummed with a quiet, patient pulse. I sat beside the carved handle and pressed my ear close to its smooth glass face. The steady tick echoed through the quiet room, keeping me company in the dimming evening.