You open a box of baking soda and place it on a shelf inside the refrigerator.
At first, nothing changes. The box stands quietly next to jars and packages. The air holds its familiar scents from milk, vegetables, and other foods. No shift in smell or look appears right away.
Days turn into weeks, then months. The fridge door swings open and shut often. Items move in and out. The baking soda remains in place, unseen work happening inside the box. The usual odors seem to stay the same.
One day, months later, the door opens and the air feels different. Cleaner, without the old lingering smells. The freshness emerges clearly now.
The result stayed hidden during those months. Time drew out the separation between the action and what became noticeable.