A Metallic Pulse

I lingered... in the dim hollow behind the armchair, listening to the house settle into night. Tick... tick... tick. A faint, steady heartbeat was hidden just beside the lower shelf. There sat an old round mechanical timer, its chrome rim dulled with dust. I waited until the shadows aligned before stepping forward with deliberate care. With two fingers, I wound the dial clockwise until the spring gave a stiff, satisfying clatter. It purred back at me, a delightful tin chatter ringing out in the still room. When the sharp chime finally sounded, I offered the quiet room a deep, theatrical bow.#meme