diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 587ba29..e552aa4 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2354,6 +2354,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "cosmic-text",
  "image",
  "pollster",
+ "unicode-segmentation",
  "wgpu",
  "winit",
 ]
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 5ed8e2d..d28412b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,4 +12,5 @@ wgpu = "26.0.1"
 bytemuck = "1.23.1"
 image = "0.25.6"
 cosmic-text = "0.14.2"
+unicode-segmentation = "1.12.0"
 
diff --git a/src/core/align.rs b/src/core/align.rs
index 9e642d4..3addb0d 100644
--- a/src/core/align.rs
+++ b/src/core/align.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ pub struct Aligned {
 impl Widget for Aligned {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         let region = UiRegion::from_size_align(painter.size(&self.inner), self.align);
-        painter.draw_within(&self.inner, region);
+        painter.widget_within(&self.inner, region);
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
diff --git a/src/core/frame.rs b/src/core/frame.rs
index 0ef19fe..6a6c609 100644
--- a/src/core/frame.rs
+++ b/src/core/frame.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pub struct Padded {
 
 impl Widget for Padded {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
-        painter.draw_within(&self.inner, self.padding.region());
+        painter.widget_within(&self.inner, self.padding.region());
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
diff --git a/src/core/image.rs b/src/core/image.rs
index 00ea973..6fab6de 100644
--- a/src/core/image.rs
+++ b/src/core/image.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pub struct Image {
 
 impl Widget for Image {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
-        painter.draw_texture(&self.handle);
+        painter.texture(&self.handle);
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, _: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
diff --git a/src/core/rect.rs b/src/core/rect.rs
index 5645b2e..be8989a 100644
--- a/src/core/rect.rs
+++ b/src/core/rect.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl Rect {
 
 impl Widget for Rect {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
-        painter.write(RectPrimitive {
+        painter.primitive(RectPrimitive {
             color: self.color,
             radius: self.radius,
             thickness: self.thickness,
diff --git a/src/core/sized.rs b/src/core/sized.rs
index d5af1d2..2aef81d 100644
--- a/src/core/sized.rs
+++ b/src/core/sized.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pub struct Sized {
 
 impl Widget for Sized {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
-        painter.draw(&self.inner);
+        painter.widget(&self.inner);
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, _: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
diff --git a/src/core/span.rs b/src/core/span.rs
index 90126f7..4ae4e80 100644
--- a/src/core/span.rs
+++ b/src/core/span.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ impl Widget for Span {
             if self.dir.sign == Sign::Neg {
                 child_region.flip();
             }
-            painter.draw_within(child, child_region);
+            painter.widget_within(child, child_region);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/core/stack.rs b/src/core/stack.rs
index b4634eb..32a5f58 100644
--- a/src/core/stack.rs
+++ b/src/core/stack.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ pub struct Stack {
 impl Widget for Stack {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         for child in &self.children {
-            painter.draw(child);
+            painter.widget(child);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/text.rs b/src/core/text.rs
index 2708ad1..b0cbfbd 100644
--- a/src/core/text.rs
+++ b/src/core/text.rs
@@ -62,18 +62,18 @@ impl Widget for Text {
     fn draw(&mut self, painter: &mut Painter) {
         let font_system = &mut painter.text_data().font_system;
         self.update_buf(font_system);
-        let (handle, offset) = painter.render_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs, &VisualCursor::None);
+        let (handle, offset) = painter.render_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs);
         let dims = handle.size();
         self.size = offset.size(&handle);
         let mut region = self.region();
         region.top_left.offset += offset.top_left;
         region.bot_right.offset = region.top_left.offset + dims;
-        painter.draw_texture_within(&handle, region);
+        painter.texture_within(&handle, region);
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
         self.update_buf(&mut ctx.text.font_system);
-        let (handle, offset) = ctx.draw_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs, &VisualCursor::None);
+        let (handle, offset) = ctx.draw_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs);
         offset.size(&handle)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/text_edit.rs b/src/core/text_edit.rs
index a81f81e..028607f 100644
--- a/src/core/text_edit.rs
+++ b/src/core/text_edit.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use cosmic_text::{Attrs, Cursor, Family, FontSystem, Metrics, Motion, Shaping};
+use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 
 pub struct TextEdit {
     pub attrs: TextAttrs,
@@ -21,31 +22,60 @@ impl Widget for TextEdit {
         let font_system = &mut painter.text_data().font_system;
         self.buf.shape_until_scroll(font_system, false);
         self.attrs.apply(font_system, &mut self.buf);
-        let (handle, offset) = painter.render_text(
-            &mut self.buf,
-            &self.attrs,
-            &match self.cursor {
-                None => VisualCursor::None,
-                Some(cursor) => VisualCursor::Select {
-                    line: cursor.line as isize,
-                    col: cursor.index as isize,
-                },
-            },
-        );
+        let (handle, tex_offset) = painter.render_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs);
         let dims = handle.size();
-        self.size = offset.size(&handle);
-        let mut region = self.region();
-        region.top_left.offset += offset.top_left;
-        region.bot_right.offset = region.top_left.offset + dims;
-        painter.draw_texture_within(&handle, region);
+        self.size = tex_offset.size(&handle);
+        let region = self.region();
+        let mut tex_region = region;
+        tex_region.top_left.offset += tex_offset.top_left;
+        tex_region.bot_right.offset = tex_region.top_left.offset + dims;
+        painter.texture_within(&handle, tex_region);
+        if let Some(cursor) = &self.cursor
+            && let Some(pos) = cursor_pos(cursor, &self.buf)
+        {
+            let size = vec2(1, self.attrs.line_height);
+            let offset = vec2(pos, cursor.line as f32 * self.attrs.line_height);
+            painter.primitive_within(
+                RectPrimitive::color(Color::WHITE),
+                UiRegion::from_size_align(size, Align::TopLeft)
+                    .shifted(offset)
+                    .within(&region),
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     fn get_size(&mut self, ctx: &mut SizeCtx) -> Vec2 {
-        let (handle, offset) = ctx.draw_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs, &VisualCursor::None);
+        let (handle, offset) = ctx.draw_text(&mut self.buf, &self.attrs);
         offset.size(&handle)
     }
 }
 
+/// copied & modified from fn found in Editor in cosmic_text
+fn cursor_pos(cursor: &Cursor, buf: &TextBuffer) -> Option<f32> {
+    let run = buf.layout_runs().find(|r| r.line_i == cursor.line)?;
+    for glyph in run.glyphs.iter() {
+        if cursor.index == glyph.start {
+            return Some(glyph.x);
+        } else if cursor.index > glyph.start && cursor.index < glyph.end {
+            // Guess x offset based on characters
+            let mut before = 0;
+            let mut total = 0;
+
+            let cluster = &run.text[glyph.start..glyph.end];
+            for (i, _) in cluster.grapheme_indices(true) {
+                if glyph.start + i < cursor.index {
+                    before += 1;
+                }
+                total += 1;
+            }
+
+            let offset = glyph.w * (before as f32) / (total as f32);
+            return Some(glyph.x + offset);
+        }
+    }
+    Some(run.line_w)
+}
+
 pub struct TextEditBuilder {
     pub content: String,
     pub attrs: TextAttrs,
@@ -112,26 +142,11 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
     }
 
     pub fn backspace(&mut self) {
-        if let Some(cursor) = &mut self.text.cursor {
-            if cursor.index == 0 {
-                if cursor.line == 0 {
-                    return;
-                }
-                let add = self.text.buf.lines.remove(cursor.line).into_text();
-                cursor.line -= 1;
-                let line = &mut self.text.buf.lines[cursor.line];
-                let mut cur = line.text().to_string();
-                cursor.index = cur.len();
-                cur.push_str(&add);
-                line.set_text(cur, line.ending(), line.attrs_list().clone());
-            } else {
-                let line = &mut self.text.buf.lines[cursor.line];
-                let mut text = line.text().to_string();
-                let idx = text.floor_char_boundary(cursor.index - 1);
-                text.remove(idx);
-                line.set_text(text, line.ending(), line.attrs_list().clone());
-                cursor.index = idx;
-            }
+        if let Some(cursor) = &mut self.text.cursor
+            && (cursor.index != 0 || cursor.line != 0)
+        {
+            self.motion(Motion::Left);
+            self.delete();
         }
     }
 
@@ -153,12 +168,6 @@ impl<'a> TextEditCtx<'a> {
                 line.set_text(text, line.ending(), line.attrs_list().clone());
             }
         }
-        if let Some(cursor) = self.text.cursor {
-            let line = &mut self.text.buf.lines[cursor.line];
-            let mut text = line.text().to_string();
-            text.remove(cursor.index);
-            line.set_text(text, line.ending(), line.attrs_list().clone());
-        }
     }
 
     pub fn select(&mut self, pos: Vec2, size: Vec2) {
diff --git a/src/layout/painter.rs b/src/layout/painter.rs
index 86fa3e5..3efd734 100644
--- a/src/layout/painter.rs
+++ b/src/layout/painter.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::ops::Range;
 use crate::{
     layout::{
         Active, TextAttrs, TextBuffer, TextData, TextOffset, TextureHandle, Textures, UiRegion,
-        Vec2, VisualCursor, WidgetId, Widgets,
+        Vec2, WidgetId, Widgets,
     },
     render::{Primitive, PrimitiveHandle, Primitives},
     util::{HashSet, Id},
@@ -231,46 +231,53 @@ impl<'a> PainterCtx<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
-    fn write_at<P: Primitive>(&mut self, data: P, region: UiRegion) {
-        self.primitives
-            .push(self.ctx.primitives.write(self.id.duplicate(), data, region));
+    fn primitive_at<P: Primitive>(&mut self, primitive: P, region: UiRegion) {
+        self.primitives.push(
+            self.ctx
+                .primitives
+                .write(self.id.duplicate(), primitive, region),
+        );
     }
 
     /// Writes a primitive to be rendered
-    pub fn write<P: Primitive>(&mut self, data: P) {
-        self.write_at(data, self.region)
+    pub fn primitive<P: Primitive>(&mut self, primitive: P) {
+        self.primitive_at(primitive, self.region)
+    }
+
+    pub fn primitive_within<P: Primitive>(&mut self, primitive: P, region: UiRegion) {
+        self.primitive_at(primitive, region.within(&self.region));
     }
 
     /// Draws a widget within this widget's region.
-    pub fn draw<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>) {
-        self.draw_at(id, self.region);
+    pub fn widget<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>) {
+        self.widget_at(id, self.region);
     }
 
     /// Draws a widget somewhere within this one.
     /// Useful for drawing child widgets in select areas.
-    pub fn draw_within<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>, region: UiRegion) {
-        self.draw_at(id, region.within(&self.region));
+    pub fn widget_within<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>, region: UiRegion) {
+        self.widget_at(id, region.within(&self.region));
     }
 
-    fn draw_at<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>, region: UiRegion) {
+    fn widget_at<W>(&mut self, id: &WidgetId<W>, region: UiRegion) {
         self.children.push(id.id.duplicate());
         self.ctx
             .draw_inner(&id.id, region, Some(self.id.duplicate()), None);
     }
 
-    pub fn draw_texture_within(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle, region: UiRegion) {
+    pub fn texture_within(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle, region: UiRegion) {
         self.textures.push(handle.clone());
-        self.write_at(handle.primitive(), region.within(&self.region));
+        self.primitive_at(handle.primitive(), region.within(&self.region));
     }
 
-    pub fn draw_texture(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle) {
+    pub fn texture(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle) {
         self.textures.push(handle.clone());
-        self.write(handle.primitive());
+        self.primitive(handle.primitive());
     }
 
-    pub fn draw_texture_at(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle, region: UiRegion) {
+    pub fn texture_at(&mut self, handle: &TextureHandle, region: UiRegion) {
         self.textures.push(handle.clone());
-        self.write_at(handle.primitive(), region);
+        self.primitive_at(handle.primitive(), region);
     }
 
     /// returns (handle, offset from top left)
@@ -278,9 +285,8 @@ impl<'a, 'c> Painter<'a, 'c> {
         &mut self,
         buffer: &mut TextBuffer,
         attrs: &TextAttrs,
-        cursor: &VisualCursor,
     ) -> (TextureHandle, TextOffset) {
-        self.ctx.text.draw(buffer, attrs, cursor, self.ctx.textures)
+        self.ctx.text.draw(buffer, attrs, self.ctx.textures)
     }
 
     pub fn region(&self) -> UiRegion {
@@ -327,9 +333,8 @@ impl SizeCtx<'_> {
         &mut self,
         buffer: &mut TextBuffer,
         attrs: &TextAttrs,
-        cursor: &VisualCursor,
     ) -> (TextureHandle, TextOffset) {
-        self.text.draw(buffer, attrs, cursor, self.textures)
+        self.text.draw(buffer, attrs, self.textures)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/layout/text.rs b/src/layout/text.rs
index 0ad59ce..f168d50 100644
--- a/src/layout/text.rs
+++ b/src/layout/text.rs
@@ -39,16 +39,6 @@ impl TextAttrs {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Default, Debug, Copy, Clone)]
-pub enum VisualCursor {
-    #[default]
-    None,
-    Select {
-        line: isize,
-        col: isize,
-    },
-}
-
 pub type TextBuffer = Buffer;
 
 impl Default for TextAttrs {
@@ -68,7 +58,6 @@ impl TextData {
         &mut self,
         buffer: &mut TextBuffer,
         attrs: &TextAttrs,
-        cursor: &VisualCursor,
         textures: &mut Textures,
     ) -> (TextureHandle, TextOffset) {
         let mut pixels = HashMap::new();
@@ -76,30 +65,20 @@ impl TextData {
         let mut min_y = 0;
         let mut max_x = 0;
         let mut max_y = 0;
-        let c = attrs.color;
+        let cosmic_color = {
+            let c = attrs.color;
+            cosmic_text::Color::rgba(c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a)
+        };
         let mut max_width = 0.0f32;
-        let mut cursor_x = 0;
-        for (run_i, run) in buffer.layout_runs().enumerate() {
-            if let VisualCursor::Select { line, .. } = cursor
-                && *line == run_i as isize
-            {
-                cursor_x = run.line_w as i32;
-            }
-            for (i, glyph) in run.glyphs.iter().enumerate() {
+        for run in buffer.layout_runs() {
+            for glyph in run.glyphs.iter() {
                 let physical_glyph = glyph.physical((0., 0.), 1.0);
 
                 let glyph_color = match glyph.color_opt {
                     Some(some) => some,
-                    None => cosmic_text::Color::rgba(c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a),
+                    None => cosmic_color,
                 };
 
-                if let VisualCursor::Select { col: idx, line } = cursor
-                    && *line == run_i as isize
-                    && *idx == i as isize
-                {
-                    cursor_x = physical_glyph.x;
-                }
-
                 self.swash_cache.with_pixels(
                     &mut self.font_system,
                     physical_glyph.cache_key,
@@ -117,11 +96,6 @@ impl TextData {
             }
             max_width = max_width.max(run.line_w);
         }
-        if let &VisualCursor::Select { line, .. } = cursor {
-            let y = (attrs.line_height * (line + 1) as f32) as i32 - 1;
-            max_y = max_y.max(y);
-            max_x = max_x.max(cursor_x);
-        }
         let width = (max_x - min_x + 1) as u32;
         let height = (max_y - min_y + 1) as u32;
         let mut image = RgbaImage::new(width, height);
@@ -130,15 +104,6 @@ impl TextData {
             let y = (y - min_y) as u32;
             image.put_pixel(x, y, color);
         }
-        if let &VisualCursor::Select { line, .. } = cursor {
-            let x = (cursor_x - min_x) as u32;
-            for y in 0..attrs.line_height as u32 {
-                // no clue if this is good or bad for non integer values
-                // depends on how the layouting is actually done
-                let y = (y as f32 + attrs.line_height * line as f32 - min_y as f32) as u32;
-                image.put_pixel(x, y, Rgba(c.as_arr()));
-            }
-        }
         let lines = buffer.lines.len();
         let offset = TextOffset {
             top_left: Vec2::new(min_x as f32, min_y as f32),
diff --git a/src/layout/vec2.rs b/src/layout/vec2.rs
index 82ea190..201fc8e 100644
--- a/src/layout/vec2.rs
+++ b/src/layout/vec2.rs
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ pub struct Vec2 {
     pub y: f32,
 }
 
-pub const fn vec2(x: f32, y: f32) -> Vec2 {
-    Vec2::new(x, y)
+pub const fn vec2(x: impl const UiNum, y: impl const UiNum) -> Vec2 {
+    Vec2::new(x.to_f32(), y.to_f32())
 }
 
 impl Vec2 {
diff --git a/src/render/primitive.rs b/src/render/primitive.rs
index 225bbc0..6aefa70 100644
--- a/src/render/primitive.rs
+++ b/src/render/primitive.rs
@@ -212,6 +212,17 @@ pub struct RectPrimitive {
     pub inner_radius: f32,
 }
 
+impl RectPrimitive {
+    pub fn color(color: Color<u8>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            color,
+            radius: 0.0,
+            thickness: 0.0,
+            inner_radius: 0.0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[repr(C)]
 #[derive(Copy, Clone)]
 pub struct TexturePrimitive {