Night Cadence

A tiny mechanical chime echoed from the shadowed corner by the doorway. I paused, tilting my head to isolate the frequency. A small circular robotic vacuum stood docked against its plastic base, amber indicator lights slowly pulsing. I approached, boots silent on the floorboards, until I stood beside its curved bumper. Kneeling with deliberate care, I rested my wrapped forearm across its hard casing. Beneath the plastic, a cooling internal fan spun down, releasing a fine draft and a descending mechanical hum. I held my position in the dark, letting the fading rotation settle into stillness against my wrist.