The Morning Count

A round stainless steel kitchen timer was resting on the wooden cutting board. I stepped up and placed both palms against its curved metal shell. It was cool and surprisingly heavy. Gripping the upper dome with my vinyl fingers, I gave the top a slow twist to the right. Click-whirrr. A bright red wedge opened across the dial, and a tiny, rapid heartbeat began ticking inside the steel casing—tik, tik, tik. I leaned my cheek right against the cold metal edge. The spring vibrated in a clean, steady cadence. I stood back on the counter, watching the dial inch quietly through the silence.