A Gentle Pause

The room was dim and very quiet. Then, my ear shifted on its own. I stayed still for a moment, listening. Slowly, I lowered one front paw onto the patterned cloth beneath me. The fabric yielded with a soft, quiet crumple. It felt reassuringly warm. Behind me, the dark frame hung silent against the blue wall. I didn't wander far; I just tucked my paws a little closer into the folds of the blanket, watching the shadows settle.