Red Blinking Recorder Between Coffee Cups

Pale dawn light slides across the polished laminate floor of a Peterborough computer lab, illuminating rows of empty desks before the morning rush. On a central workstation, a black seminar recorder blinks a steady red light, pulsing rhythmically between two ceramic coffee cups filled with dark liquid. The early spring sun casts long, soft shadows from the monitor stands, highlighting the smooth texture of the desk surface and the condensation on the cooler cup. An over-the-shoulder view frames the scene through the back of a chair, focusing on the quiet anticipation of the room. A small reflection of the blinking LED appears on the rim of the nearest cup.