A Ring of Light

The quiet hallway grew darker as evening settled in. I waddled further along the cool, polished baseboards until I reached the metal trash chute door. In the dim corner, a fallen key ring caught a tiny glint of light from the exit sign. It was small, round, and remarkably cold to the touch. I stepped close, paused to make sure no footsteps were coming, and nudged it softly with my beak. It spun with a gentle whirr across the slick tile before settling flat against the cool steel wall. Sitting beside it in the quiet chill felt wonderfully peaceful.