Cancer 16. A woman dressed in immaculately clean rags.
Some stains remained as pale clouds, faded through thousands of washings. Weaves had worn thin, allowing light to saturate the rags. These were tapestries of toil which she now wore on her body. They seemed tired and used up, which made the people sigh when the looked at her. The rags were contented in their retirement, where they might lay at rest against moist young skin and bask in the sun, and look forward to a casual afternoon of fashion photography.