To my child,

if it weren't for my spindle I would be close to madness from all those nightmares. Spinning relaxes my mind and frees me from my fears, at least for a while.

It's weird how meditating used to be difficult not long before.

My spindle spins and spins as more and more qi turns pure and clean. My mental constructs just slide into place so naturally in the beautiful wood.

Stolen story; please report.

I feel like darkness is creeping in from all around me, with my spindle as the only light keeping me safe. I know it's silly. I know it doesn't make sense.

But I am nothing but a weak young girl trapped in a room with no way out. There is nothing I can do.

I don't think I will ever meet you and I don't dare hope you'd ever get a single letter, but...was it too much to assume that both of us would live at least?

In love,

your mother