Alexis rolled over and looked at her clock. “Crap,” she cursed into her pillow. Her brain kicked in and she held her breath as it calculated. 1 + 2 is 3 + 3 is 6 + 7 is 13 and that’s 4. She let out her breath and raised her head. Looked at her clock again. 12:38 “Now 5, an odd number. I can go to the bathroom. Stupid even numbers,” she grunted as she stumbled out of bed.

Her mother was still up. Great. “Allie? What are you doing up?” Mother asked. “Nature called,” Alexis answered. “Alright, honey,” she could hear the worry in her mother’s voice and chose to ignore it with a sigh.

Alexis washed her hands once, this time. One was an odd number, afterall. Odd was good. The light had to be turned off seven times. The first six weren’t her fault. (But the even attempts don’t really count.) She tried one, but it flickered. Then, on the third try, her finger slipped. The fifth just didn’t feel right. So, seven it was. Perfect.

Instead of bed, Alexis sat with her mother. The clock blinking 12:00.