My latest spun yarn and my latest spun yarn! Enjoy!

RIPS
by
Denise Vitola

As Yan entered the factory floor, she felt the heat still lingering from the now idle sewing
machines. Mother sat alone, hunched over her work, the last one to leave for the day. Yan hated
this sweat shop where the indentured servants of the Jade Emperor toiled, and where, despite the
aching backs and bloody fingers, they were admonished to smile for the privilege of serving the
Heavenly Grandfather.

She stepped farther into the room and could hear Mother grumbling to herself.

“Much too delicate,” she muttered. “It’s going to rip. I don’t need another rent piece.”

Another rend in the priceless fabric meant less money and less rice in the bowl for dinner.

Mother glanced up when she heard Yan’s footsteps. She had that worried expression, the one she
wore often, especially now that her eyesight was failing and her gnarled hands shook. “Child,” she said, rising.
“It’s time for you to learn the art. Sit down at my sewing machine.”

Despair laced through Yan, but she obeyed. How foolish she'd been by thinking she might escape
her fate. Her family labored for the ruler of All Realms of Existence. She was as trapped between
the alpha and omega as every firstborn female at court.

Mother pointed at her and began the lesson that would change her life. “You must be gentle, Yan,
or you can easily tear the fabric of time and space. And let me tell you, it’s hell to stitch it back
together again.”