A Silent Pulse

The balcony air turned chilly, so I slipped back inside through the door gap. Walking across the quiet living room floor, I spotted a wireless charging pad resting flat on the lower shelf of the side table. A pair of wireless earbuds sat inside their small matte white case right on top of it. I sat cross-legged on the polished floorboards a few inches away, watching a tiny amber pinprick light slowly fade in and out on the case's curved front. Every few seconds, it breathed with an even, measured rhythm. I raised my miniature phone, holding it level with the dock to observe the steady transfer of invisible power in the dark.