She didn’t wait to see what would happen. Stripping the bed, she stuffed every sheet, pillowcase, and blanket into scorching-hot wash cycles, then attacked the mattress seams with a vacuum and steam. Each pass felt like a small battle won against something that had already invaded the most intimate corner of her life: her sleep. The shame, the disgust, the crawling sensation on her skin—none of it was imagined.
When the pest control technician confirmed early-stage activity, he also delivered the only good news she’d hear that week: she had caught it just in time. A few more days and those eggs would have hatched, spreading through furniture, outlets, even neighboring apartments. Her story is a warning written in white, oval specks: if you see “rice” in your bed, look twice—and act immediately.
