I Write Short Stories
"The Mirror"
[media=https://youtu.be/fs0g6yL6kDc]
Before you can love another, you must first learn to love yourself.
She woke up from her cell alarm, Three Days Grace, playing “Lost In You,”
“8:00 am. Shit!”
She didn’t want to get out of bed, she never did. She just wanted to hide in her bed most days and never see the sun. But get up she did, and padded naked to the bathroom to pee. She brushed her teeth, and looked in the mirror, her enemy. She was amazingly beautiful; at least that’s what all the guys tell her. She convinced herself that they only say that just to get her in bed. They always want to get her drunk and just bend her over.
Her Doctor’s told her she suffers from ‘body dismorphia’. What we see in the mirror is a beast, where others may see beauty and grace. She probably suffers from varying degrees of depression; or maybe, just a lack of ambition. Small things create a panic in her heart, being around people gives her extreme anxiety, making her feel utterly worthless and disgusting.
Looking back at her in the mirror was a ghost of herself, pale skin, blemished, tired, red, sad eyes. Her hair was tangled, and not at all becoming. Breasts too big, and misshapen, her tummy was too big and out of proportion. Her butt too big and it made her hate food, so she rarely ate much of anything.
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she picked up her hair brush and smashed the mirror, shards of glass everywhere, one in particular was the perfect size and shape. It seduced her, as she picked it up and trailed the sharp edge along her arm, down to her wrist.
“Fuck it!” She dropped it into the sink and went quickly to her closet to pick out the outfit of the day, quieting the temptation of self-harm that was always just underneath the surface. She couldn’t find anything that fit right, which made her more determined than ever to look her best today, even though she knew she’d look like shit. “I’ll go shopping today,” she said to herself. “I need some new clothes!”
*
Downtown was a busy bustle, passer’s bye turned heads and gazed upon her as she strolled past them, ignoring the comments and compliments from both men and women. Inside her favorite shop, she browsed her size and picked out a few new outfits. She didn’t need to try them on because this place always had her fit. Besides, she avoided the dressing room mirrors at all cost. She swiped her card and smiled at the pretty cashier who complimented her on her choices, and headed back out into the late morning swarm of people that seemed to never end. A couple of twenty something guys turned around and started to follow her, so she quickly ducked into an antique shop that she’d been meaning to check out.
Wall hangings, old clocks, baskets, mirrors, bells and baubles made it a tight squeeze between throughout the shop. She liked the clocks, but not the mirrors; but something drew her into the corner where the mirrors were arranged. Long ones, short ones, fancy and old; they held her attention. She was fascinated by one in particular; the shop owner mentioned that this one was special. When she ask special how? She was told that it was special to each individual that peered into its glass. Most see themselves in a distorted fashion, one way or the other. It was lined in a dark walnut oval frame, and its glass was old and freckled with marks and scars from its vintage life.
She was for some reason, very hesitant to look into the mirror on the nightstand, afraid even. She got a deep cold chill in her bones, then; suddenly, broke out in a cold sweat as she inched closer. When she peered into the glass, expecting the worse; tears formed in her eyes. Her image was unbelievable, and she let out a gasp. Her hair was silky and the color of black violet. Her almond shaped eyes were wet and alive; a deep, dark emerald green. Her skin glowed alabaster white with a touch of pink from her sudden flush. Her lips were the shape of love, tempting pastel pink. She was, in one word- Beautiful.
She bought the mirror with her American Express, totally oblivious to the cost, as the shop keeper gave her a warm smile and a wink. “Remember my dear; beauty, is always in the eye of the beholder.”
*
For the next several days, she didn’t step foot out of her house. She’d spend hours in front of the mirror, staring; unbelieving, mesmerized. She was beautiful, at least that was the image of beauty looking back from the magical glass. She’d drink her coffee, applying makeup, trying on dresses and outfits that she’d not worn since she’d bought them.
She was feeling happy for the first time, in a very long time. She’d play her favorite music, and dance around the house with nothing on at all at times. Several nights later, the doorbell rang, her boyfriend had arrived to take her out for the night. She let him in with a bright smile, her eyes dancing, and greeted him with a warm kiss.
“Wow! You look absolutely beautiful.” He beamed with excitement to be seen with her tonight.
“Thank you,” she smiled and did a flirty hair flip, with a giggle. “I feel really beautiful tonight.”
“Well, I won’t be letting you out of my sight tonight,” he teased her. “If you’re ready, we got reservations at The Limelight.”
“Oh, you don’t mess around do you? Ok, just one thing and I’ll be right with you.” She excused herself and went to the bedroom, looked into her mirror one last time. Her image, distorted like one found in a carnival fun house. She kissed it, leaving a red lipstick imprint on the glass, and put it in the special box that the shopkeeper packaged it in, and put it up on the top shelf of her closet. “See you later beautiful!” She said to no one in particular, and turned out the light.
-Kelly.
[media=https://youtu.be/fs0g6yL6kDc]
Before you can love another, you must first learn to love yourself.
She woke up from her cell alarm, Three Days Grace, playing “Lost In You,”
“8:00 am. Shit!”
She didn’t want to get out of bed, she never did. She just wanted to hide in her bed most days and never see the sun. But get up she did, and padded naked to the bathroom to pee. She brushed her teeth, and looked in the mirror, her enemy. She was amazingly beautiful; at least that’s what all the guys tell her. She convinced herself that they only say that just to get her in bed. They always want to get her drunk and just bend her over.
Her Doctor’s told her she suffers from ‘body dismorphia’. What we see in the mirror is a beast, where others may see beauty and grace. She probably suffers from varying degrees of depression; or maybe, just a lack of ambition. Small things create a panic in her heart, being around people gives her extreme anxiety, making her feel utterly worthless and disgusting.
Looking back at her in the mirror was a ghost of herself, pale skin, blemished, tired, red, sad eyes. Her hair was tangled, and not at all becoming. Breasts too big, and misshapen, her tummy was too big and out of proportion. Her butt too big and it made her hate food, so she rarely ate much of anything.
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she picked up her hair brush and smashed the mirror, shards of glass everywhere, one in particular was the perfect size and shape. It seduced her, as she picked it up and trailed the sharp edge along her arm, down to her wrist.
“Fuck it!” She dropped it into the sink and went quickly to her closet to pick out the outfit of the day, quieting the temptation of self-harm that was always just underneath the surface. She couldn’t find anything that fit right, which made her more determined than ever to look her best today, even though she knew she’d look like shit. “I’ll go shopping today,” she said to herself. “I need some new clothes!”
*
Downtown was a busy bustle, passer’s bye turned heads and gazed upon her as she strolled past them, ignoring the comments and compliments from both men and women. Inside her favorite shop, she browsed her size and picked out a few new outfits. She didn’t need to try them on because this place always had her fit. Besides, she avoided the dressing room mirrors at all cost. She swiped her card and smiled at the pretty cashier who complimented her on her choices, and headed back out into the late morning swarm of people that seemed to never end. A couple of twenty something guys turned around and started to follow her, so she quickly ducked into an antique shop that she’d been meaning to check out.
Wall hangings, old clocks, baskets, mirrors, bells and baubles made it a tight squeeze between throughout the shop. She liked the clocks, but not the mirrors; but something drew her into the corner where the mirrors were arranged. Long ones, short ones, fancy and old; they held her attention. She was fascinated by one in particular; the shop owner mentioned that this one was special. When she ask special how? She was told that it was special to each individual that peered into its glass. Most see themselves in a distorted fashion, one way or the other. It was lined in a dark walnut oval frame, and its glass was old and freckled with marks and scars from its vintage life.
She was for some reason, very hesitant to look into the mirror on the nightstand, afraid even. She got a deep cold chill in her bones, then; suddenly, broke out in a cold sweat as she inched closer. When she peered into the glass, expecting the worse; tears formed in her eyes. Her image was unbelievable, and she let out a gasp. Her hair was silky and the color of black violet. Her almond shaped eyes were wet and alive; a deep, dark emerald green. Her skin glowed alabaster white with a touch of pink from her sudden flush. Her lips were the shape of love, tempting pastel pink. She was, in one word- Beautiful.
She bought the mirror with her American Express, totally oblivious to the cost, as the shop keeper gave her a warm smile and a wink. “Remember my dear; beauty, is always in the eye of the beholder.”
*
For the next several days, she didn’t step foot out of her house. She’d spend hours in front of the mirror, staring; unbelieving, mesmerized. She was beautiful, at least that was the image of beauty looking back from the magical glass. She’d drink her coffee, applying makeup, trying on dresses and outfits that she’d not worn since she’d bought them.
She was feeling happy for the first time, in a very long time. She’d play her favorite music, and dance around the house with nothing on at all at times. Several nights later, the doorbell rang, her boyfriend had arrived to take her out for the night. She let him in with a bright smile, her eyes dancing, and greeted him with a warm kiss.
“Wow! You look absolutely beautiful.” He beamed with excitement to be seen with her tonight.
“Thank you,” she smiled and did a flirty hair flip, with a giggle. “I feel really beautiful tonight.”
“Well, I won’t be letting you out of my sight tonight,” he teased her. “If you’re ready, we got reservations at The Limelight.”
“Oh, you don’t mess around do you? Ok, just one thing and I’ll be right with you.” She excused herself and went to the bedroom, looked into her mirror one last time. Her image, distorted like one found in a carnival fun house. She kissed it, leaving a red lipstick imprint on the glass, and put it in the special box that the shopkeeper packaged it in, and put it up on the top shelf of her closet. “See you later beautiful!” She said to no one in particular, and turned out the light.
-Kelly.
