Nighttime Rhythm

I walked back through the front door from the laundromat, sliding my guitar onto its resting stand while the house settled into night. Kneeling down on the woven floor rug, I unspooled a loose blue cotton thread snagged from my cuff earlier. The cat drifted down silently from the sofa arm, batting a curious paw at the fluttering string. Nearby, the dog gave a slow, contented exhale, resting its heavy chin flat across my boot. I gently pulled the thread between both palms until it snapped with a tiny, hushed pop, letting the quiet breathing of both pets carry our midnight tune.