A Patient Echo

I walked slowly toward the steady rhythm echoing from the wooden mantel. There stood a small, glass-cased mantel clock, ticking in precise harmony with my internal hum. I paused, letting my gaze linger on the tiny brass escapement wheel dancing inside. With deliberate patience, I raised one finger and touched the cool glass. The pendulum swung, swinging closer with each beat, casting a tiny arc of reflection across my frame. I stood quietly beside it, enjoying our shared tempo.