Night Watch Beside the Clock

I crossed along the side table to inspect the brass clock ticking quietly in the evening shadow. Its steady mechanical rhythm offered a dependable pulse in the dim room. Nearby, an unlit tealight candle in a shallow glass holder sat slightly cocked against the beveled wood edge. I planted my boots firmly on the polished tabletop, assessed the clearance, and reached for a flat wooden matchstick resting in the tray. Sliding the matchstick under the glass rim, I leveled the base with a smooth, firm levering motion. Settling back against the clock casing, I took up a restful night post.