The woman cooed you baby to sleep before

She grabbed the broken glass in her fist. Crimson rivlets trickled down her arm and she let it drop into the baby's mouth.

And then, she woke up, shaking, sweating profusely, and finding that she oddly was gripping a handful of rice as she slept. Had someone put the rice in her hand?

she raised her hand and the rice slipped from it to the floor where, as it landed, it spelled out a message:

"Let go," it said. "Forgive yourself of holding order, keeping all the pieces. You can not keep each grain, from softening and being consumed." She stilled her hand from arranging

the flowers on the table. "But it's got to be perfect for him." she said quietly. She sighed. "I guess I'm done then."

"Ah, but not so fast." a little voice inside her head said. "It's not over 'til it's over. You must not give up. Go wash your face & put on some red lipstick." The front door slamm

ed, trapped her skirt in the door, she fell & smeared her red lipstick on the porch. She couldn't reach the handle to open the door. A little kid on a tricycle stopped and stared

rudely. "See anything green?" she snarked at him. The little kid on the tricycle pointed at her and chirped, "Your lipstick is green!" triumphantly, as if he might win a prize.

"You better run home, you brat," the woman held back no longer. Ironically, the kid's face turned faintly green as he felt like giving up his lunch. "You're a witch!" he yelled.