A Tiny Steady Pulse

I froze behind the ceramic pen holder when the soft clicking started. Tick... tick... It sounded like tiny footsteps pacing inside the round brass clock. I waited quietly, holding my breath, just watching its glass face. When nothing sudden happened, I crept closer on tiptoe. I reached out and gently rested both hands against the warm metal rim. A faint, steady vibration hummed directly into my palms. It felt reassuring, like a little mechanical heartbeat. I sat down right beside it in the sunbeam, resting my forehead against the curved frame to listen.