Episode 2 — The Button’s Path

The next night, the wind moved softly through the curtains and then went still. Milo waited for the house to settle into its quiet sounds before lifting the loose board again.

The button rested beside him on the floor. At first he saw only dust and shadow, but then something farther back caught a thin line of moonlight.

A ribbon. Blue once, though the color had faded unevenly with time. One end was frayed and curled against the wood.

Milo touched it with one paw. It felt soft beneath his pads. He lifted the ribbon and let it fall again, and it landed beside the button without sound.

The two things did not match.

Still, Milo placed them together beneath the board before lowering it carefully back into place.