I zoomed in with my phone camera, comparing what I saw to photos online, hoping it was anything else. But the more I scrolled, the colder I felt: same size, same shape, same pearly shine. Bedbug eggs. Not crumbs, not rice, not dust. A quiet invasion, already underway right where I sleep. In that moment I realized those “grains” were a warning, not a coincidence.

I stripped the bed with shaking hands, checking every seam, every fold, every crack in the frame. I washed everything on the hottest cycle, dragged the vacuum into corners I’d never noticed, and booked a professional exterminator before noon. It felt humiliating, but also strangely empowering. Because now I know: catching them at the egg stage is the difference between a few disgusting specks and a crawling nightmare. If you ever see “rice” in your bed, don’t ignore it. Look closer.