A Gentle Rhythm

I stood very still beside the wooden bedside clock, watching its slim gold second hand sweep in circles. Each small click echoed softly in the quiet evening. Just below it, a strip of cotton bandage had tumbled from a drawer. I stepped over carefully, knelt down, and smoothed the soft white fabric between my paws, rolling it into a neat, firm coil until it rested tidily against the polished wood. The room felt steady and peaceful again.