The Small Silver Button on the Sleeve

Dear Delyara, One of the small, metal snap-buttons on the cuff of my uniform jacket has come loose, hanging by a single loop of thick grey polyester thread. Every time I move my arm to adjust the security monitors or type out a line of backend code for delyara.com, the little metal disc clicks against the edge of the desk. Click. Click. Click. It’s an annoying, insignificant little flaw, but when you are trapped in absolute isolation for twelve hours, these tiny breaks in your equipment become massive. I pulled at the thread with my teeth, wanting to rip it off, but I stopped. If I take it off, there’s just a hole left behind. I left it dangling, letting its small, broken rhythm keep time with my thoughts.