In The Mirror
The mirror hung in the foyer. It’s gilded frame an
extravagance of flowers and cherubs. The reflective glass shined and sparkled,
always perfectly clean. It was expensive. It was beautiful.
It was also the most ignored piece in the house.
Nell walked past the mirror dozens of times of day. She
never looked at it. Most definitely never looked into it. Not because she
didn’t know it was there. Oh, she knew. The mirror called to her constantly. Nell
answered, but only once a day. The rest of the time, she pretended not to hear.
Today, Nell had busied herself with charity work. ‘Save the
Ferrets’ or some such nonsense. She sat hunched over her laptop casually
putting words together for a flyer. She wondered to herself who had roped her
into this one. Her husband, Dan, would tease her about it. Which would irritate
her. Then they would fight. She would cry. Every. Single. Night.
Focus. Nell pulled
her thoughts together. She googled a website and began scrolling through
information. “Facts about the dwindling mink population” Ah, minks, not ferrets.
“Mommy.”
Nell’s shoulder twitched. She blinked twice. “The slaughter
of innocent animals for human…”
“Mommy.”
No. Her eyes closed. Nell considered getting headphones, but
she knew it wouldn’t help. The voice permeated everything.
“Please.” The voice sounded sad.
With a sigh, Nell slammed her laptop shut. She rubbed her
temples before standing up. Her legs shook. They always did.
Down the staircase, Nell passed family portraits. Herself
and Dan shoving wedding cake in faces. Dan and her in front of the house, her
belly huge. The three of them in the hospital, in the park, in the living room
beside a Christmas tree.
That’s where the pictures ended. For two years, no pictures,
no Christmas, no…family.
“Mommy!”
The voice had turned angry. Nell hurried down the last few
stairs, not wanting to deal with her anger.
Standing in front of the mirror, Nell stared at the floor.
Her too-long jeans covered most of her bare feet. Her breathing was ragged, her
heart unsteady.
“There you are.”
Ever so slowly, Nell raised her head. There in the mirror,
instead of her reflection, she was greeted by a young girl. Black curls, an
echo of Nell’s own, framed a sweet face with bright green eyes.
Nell smiled at her daughter. “Hello Carina.”
“What took you so long?” Carina asked.
“I’m sorry.” Nell knew that any excuse would be rejected.
Instead she avoided the question.
“She wants to know where it is.” Carina said this and
glanced to her right. Nell tried not to follow her daughter’s gaze.
“Tell her I’m still looking.”
“She says time is running out. What does that mean? Does
that mean I’m coming home?”
Nell’s heart seemed to stop. She swallowed hard. “I hope so,
sweetie.”
“I miss you Mommy.”
Tears filled Nell’s eyes. She blinked rapidly trying to stop
them. The witch hated tears.
“I miss you, too.”
Carina smiled weakly. She opened her mouth to speak, but
before she did, a bony hand appeared to her right. Nell watched in horror as
the hand grasped her daughter’s arm and pulled her away. The surface of the
mirror rippled. Nell stared at her reflection and watched the tears fall.
