The object lay in its velvet box, gleaming with a pearlescent sheen. When she first saw it, her fingertips hovered over the packaging for three full minutes before she finally opened it. The silicone surface bore textures reminiscent of human skin, yet it was slightly cooler than real body heat.  

"This is too..." she thought to herself, but couldn't find the right word.  

 

The charging port was cleverly hidden at the base, like a tiny secret. The first time she used it, she deliberately chose a day when her husband was away on business. The sound of running water in the bathroom masked the faint vibrations, and steam fogged up the mirror. Gazing at her reflection, she noticed an almost girlish smile playing at the corners of her lips.  

 

Eventually, it found a permanent home—wrapped in a silk handkerchief, tucked away in the bottom drawer of her nightstand. Sometimes, waking in the middle of the night, she would suddenly remember its presence, like recalling a secret only she knew.  

 

One rainy evening, after her husband had fallen asleep, she quietly opened the drawer. The rhythm of raindrops against the window unexpectedly synchronized with the pulse beneath her fingertips. In that moment, she realized it was simply a tool for self-discovery—no different from a makeup mirror, a weighing scale, or a diary.  

 

The next morning, as she straightened the sheets, she found a note left on the pillow:  

 

*"Next time, you don’t have to wait until I’m asleep. —L"*  

 

On the back was a smiley face.  

That night, for the first time, she left the bedroom door unlocked.