Dabbing powder on my face, images began to flicker in my mind’s eye. On the screen, the story of a killer on the prowl was playing out. I kept my arm steady, applying careful brush strokes.

The story-telling makeup tutorial was creepy by design, with the backdrop of the night sky and weird music playing. Occasionally, the goosebumps would spring up on my arms.

Startled, I turned towards the hearth. I watched something drift by, thinking it was a fly. It wasn’t.

Then, a sneeze and out came some green virus-laden snot. The pressure from my sinus infection was killer.

Inspired by The Sunday Whirl – Wordle #499