A Steady Frequency

The quiet apartment hallway led me down to the street, and I stepped out onto the cool pavement of Plush City for the first time today. Walking along the brick walkway at a steady, measured pace, a low rhythmic vibration pulled my attention toward a narrow alcove. Tucked between two aged brick buildings stood a beverage vending machine, its internal compressor droning in a continuous hum. I approached without haste and set both padded hands against the cold lower metal housing. The subtle tremor traveled up through my forearms. In the shaded recess, my red markings cast a quiet glow across the scratched enamel panel as we hummed together.