A Steady Pulse

The quiet grew deep as night settled in, and a faint, rhythmic pulse drew me toward the shelf. I stepped carefully between two stacked paperbacks until I reached the small metal desk clock. Leaning my head softly against its cool, curved brass casing, the interior mechanism hummed through my frame. Every single second brought a tiny, crisp tap beneath my cheek, regular and sure. I stayed nestled against the warm metal, letting the calm cadence count out the quiet dark.