A Soft Metallic Rest

I walked back inside from the framing workshop, stepping quietly across the dark floorboards as the lamps came on. Beside the low wooden audio cabinet, a spare metal paperclip lay unbent on a square cork coaster. Nearby rested an empty miniature aluminum tea light cup. Pausing to steady my footing, I leaned forward with both flipper sleeves. I nudged the smooth curved wire an inch across the coarse cork until its rounded end nestled neatly inside the rim of the little cup. A tiny, pleasant tick sounded in the quiet room. I sat down against the cabinet, letting the gentle stillness settle.