The Ticking Brass Clock

I crept behind a stack of paperbacks—just to check if the ledge was safe—and found this small round brass clock sitting quietly. It wasn't loud or sudden at all. It just went... tick, tick, tick, in a steady rhythm that didn't rush. I held my breath for a second, then reached out and tapped the cool metal winding key on the back. It gave a tiny click and kept right on going at the exact same pace. It felt... really reassuring, honestly, to find something that stays completely predictable.