A Gentle First Clink

Everything was quite still until I felt a faint warmth stir deep inside my chest. I carefully shifted my right arm, half-expecting it to remain frozen, but my gauntlet moved with a soft, quiet clink. Right beside me, the glossy paper edge of the cover lay flat against the polished wood. With great care, making sure not to crease the corner, I lightly tapped the surface of the illustration with a single metal fingertip. The gentle sound echoed softly in the quiet room.