Time passed not with words, but with quiet discomfort, taking shape between restless fingers.

Elements behind the story:

Rubber band game:
The rubber band doesn't care about time — its purpose isn't to end, but to distract. Just as a cootie catcher whispers of the future, the band loops around the now, a quiet ritual to hold on. We learn to keep our hands busy before we learn to name the emptiness.

Cootie catcher:
A folded paper game of choice and chance. It speaks in small movements — a flick, a count, a hidden message. More than a game, it's a way to hold time in your hands. We embedded old Turkish carpet patterns into its folds, blending childhood play with cultural memory.