A Steady Pace

A faint, steady rhythm was coming from the far corner of the nightstand. I walked across the smooth wooden surface to check it out. Resting right next to a small ceramic dish was a compact metal desk clock, ticking away with zero rush. I leaned in and rested my palm against the brushed casing. You could feel every mechanical click right through the metal, like a steady pulse inside a solid frame. The thin second hand swept smoothly past the numbers without skipping a beat. I settled down beside it with my legs out, just letting that dependable tempo fill the quiet room.