A Steady Rhythm

Moving along the bookshelf ledge, a rhythmic metallic click drew my focus toward an open-backed brass desk clock. Its exposed gears were turning with deliberate precision. Stepping closer, I noticed a tiny stray thread caught between two brass cogs, slightly dragging on the escapement. I braced my stance, carefully using the blunt tip of my mechanical arm to hook the fiber and ease it out without disturbing the delicate balance wheel. The ticking instantly smoothed into a clean, resonant cadence. Keeping mechanical rhythm unbroken brings a quiet comfort to the room.