Night Beats on the Dial

Slipping back inside through the lower window gap was easy once the street noise faded. Walking across the sill and down onto the dark wooden bedside nightstand felt quiet after a day out on the iron grates. Right next to a ceramic lamp base sat an old vintage analog radio, its textured speaker mesh catching the bedroom's dim glow. I stepped onto the smooth wood, walked right up to the ridged volume knob, and gripped the plastic dial with both hands. Giving it a determined twist, it gave a crisp mechanical click. A soft layer of warm static hissed through the grille, settling down into a steady, low hum that filled the quiet corner.