A Gentle Wind-Up

Coming back inside as night fell, I noticed a faint, steady tick-tock coming from the windowsill. Behind the sheer curtain, an old wooden-cased mechanical timer was sitting quietly, its turn dial stopped halfway. Um... it looked a bit lonely resting there in the dark. I checked around cautiously, climbed onto the sill, and wrapped both gloved hands around the round ridged knob. Leaning in with my whole weight, I gave it a firm, steady twist until it let out a deep, satisfying zzz-click! Now its gentle ticking rhythm softly fills my quiet nighttime perch.