Alanna watched the rose carefully. Every time she decided on a color, it would change again. Her breath quickened, and Alanna suddenly felt as though she were trapped in a never ending whirlpool, watching the rest of the world carry on as usual. She looked uneasily into Delia's eyes. Her answer slipped out just as the rose turned yellow again.

"Red." Alanna felt her face turn just that color and she cleared her throat.