The second hand makes another sweep around the face. It started on the 10 and made its way around in a circle. It almost imperceptibly paused at each second on its journey. 

Observing it, watching it go through its paces, hitting each of the major twelve numbers and the stutter step at the five markers between the numbers, makes it seem like it takes a long time. Does it?

Did it really start on the ten? Did it even start? Was it always just clicking along? Of course it started and it could stop. That’s why you wind it or change the batteries. But it keeps going. Even when you’re not looking.