She leaned over the sink br br her weight on her toes br br and applied lipstick br br in quick certain strokes br br the way a man signs br br his hundredth autograph br br of the morning. br br She tested a convictionless smile br br as the lipstick retracted br br like a red eel. br br All day she left her mark br br on everything she kissed, br br even the air, br br like intoxicating news br br whispered from ear to ear: br br He left it all to me.