T he girl in the corner bowed her head. Words, not her own, drifted on the sweet air and dropped like pebbles around her feet. She thought of how existence slipped, drained away. Life ticked down. Time was devouring her. Its gnarled teeth gnashing, grinding against bone.

Words, her's and those of others betrayed the truth of it. Lapidary phrases turned against reason.

In the distance she could hear the sounds of children at play. High, sweet music drawn from human strings filled the air and became her favorite torture.

The girl in the corner closed her eyes and replayed the last painless moment. Regret laced with sugar poisoned her blood. Again the sounds of children. Recess. And she was stuck in this damn corner.