"What's happening!" Sonia was struggling with the reality of a fading world. Outside the gray sky and dull buildings looked only a tinge grayer and duller. Inside, the stark whites were still what they were but her paintings seemed to be layered in neutral shades, growing less vibrant with each hour.

"I don't know," he said. "but I thought you were just painting that way."

"I didn't paint you!" she said. Her voice held a scared tone like the sharp fragile edge of a feather. "You're losing color." she said.