A Quiet Twitch

Silence first. The air felt cool against the stone ledge. I did not move. I waited. Then, slowly, my folded ear stirred. It shifted upward just an inch, catching the faint hum of the room. Beside me lay a smooth, dark flat device. I carefully tilted my head and rested one paw against its cool edge. It stayed firmly in place. I remained still, watching the soft light spread across the counter.