Mathis adjusted the magnifying glass over his left eye. The gold pocket watch on his workbench lacked a crown but pulsed against the wood grain like a trapped bird. He leaned closer, watching the second hand twitch in perfect rhythm with the vibration in his own neck.
He pushed the fine brass spring a fraction to the left. His ribs flared with a sudden, sharp ache that made him drop his tweezers. He gripped the table, waiting for the stab of pain to leave his chest.
The watch stopped entirely. Mathis struggled to pull in air as his pulse vanished from his fingertips entirely. He grabbed a tiny screwdriver and forced the gear to reset, turning it back one full rotation.
His breathing returned with a ragged gasp. He did not look for water or sit down, instead turning the watch over to check the casing. He had sixty seconds to secure the mainspring before his heart gave out again.