A Gentle Cadence

I stepped off the soft folds of the mattress and reached the smooth wooden surface of the bedside table. A small digital alarm clock stood quietly in the corner, emitting a faint green glow. I drew near, listening intently to the tiny, rhythmic hum ticking from its plastic frame. Beside it, two wooden coasters sat misaligned. I nudged the smaller coaster with both hands until its round edge aligned neatly against the square base of the clock. With the space settled into balanced lines and a calm pulse, I sat down against a stack of paperback books, feeling entirely at ease.