It's a little weird. But, then again, so am I.
There may be a few grammar errors...I don't know, I'm supposed to be doing homework. oO
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Part One of a Two Part Short Story
Staring at the transparent stranger in the window, Mary raised her hand in awe. The other little girl mimicked the movement. She even dawned on that same impressed expression, as if she were Mary’s reflection in the mirror. Despite the resemblance, Mary knew better.
This was not her mother’s handheld contraption that could be flipped open whenever the double was needed to help with make-up on the go, nor was it the towering doorway to that other world, where the look-a-likes resided in full view.
Yes, that other world, a magical place, that pretended to be just like us, but must have their own mystical secrets. Like how they always know when you’re going to stand before that portal, even when you yourself didn’t know prior to, even when you pretend to leave, but leap back at the last minute. They always know. They know every move everyone was ever going to make. This, she was convinced of.
It’s fun at first, playing with that strange twin on the other side, trying to trick her into making a wrong move with complicated positions and sudden changes. But then Mary got curious.
She wanted to step through, join that other person who looked just like her, and all the other doubles, to see what games they could play then. But every time she tried, tried to visit, her friend in that world would stand in front, block her hand with her own hand, pressing her cheek against Mary’s. For some reason, the other Mary would never let her in. But that other Mary wanted her to come as much as Mary herself did. Mary knew. Because every time she prevented Mary from entering, she would reflect that look of disappointment, as if to say sorry with those mute lips.
They wanted her. More than anyone in her world ever did. And yet, every time, every time, they wouldn’t allow the transition. It was heartbreaking for both of them.
But this girl, this wavering ghost in the glass, was not her usual companion. Even though she continued to follow Mary’s every move, she was not the same one. She wore a strange outfit that Mary had never seen before, let alone wore, while her twin always dressed like her. While the white outfit was unique, it was still beautiful. It complimented her long, flowing, gray hair. That was another difference. Mary had medium length blonde, bouncy curls, with a crimson bow in the back.
This was definitely not her twin. If all that wasn’t enough, there were the eyes and wings. Yes, wings. Grey eyes to go with the wavy, gray hair, looking back at her own luminous green ones. And a pair of jet black wings perched on her back, each feather perfectly placed.
Not my twin, not my double…
That was all that she could think, all that she could fathom.
“Not my twin…”
“What was that, Mary? Did you lose something?”
Mary shook her head, still leaning against the cool glass, a halo of mist forming around the ghost as steam puffed out of her mouth. The air was chilly. Her mother patted her on the shoulder. But her mother’s twin didn’t appear in the window. How strange.
“Mary, get off that window. That’s rude. You’re going to smudge it.”
Her mother’s glove covered hand wrapped around hers, and led her away from that world. The ghost continued, even now, to copy, her hand held by some invisible force, looking over her shoulder at Mary as Mary did to her. And disappointment. There was always that disappointment when Mary had to leave, from both sides. And then it happened.
Breaking that law of sameness, the ghost’s hand fell to her side, and she turned completely around, even though Mary continued to be dragged away by her mother. A small smirk crept onto her face.
Mary was bewildered. Tugging against her mother’s strength, she struggled to go back to the glass. She could feel it. Today was the day.
“Mary? Mary, what are you doing? Stop that this instant!”
Mary…she wondered if they already knew her name over there. They seemed to know everything else. Or maybe they would give her a new name. Would her twin be called Mary? Would they play games of follow the leader, like always, or would they be willing to try out hide and seek? The ghost had already broken the law of sameness. Maybe the rest would be able to change, too.
Her wings unmoving, the ghost outspread her arms, the little ghost, as small as Mary, beckoning her to come. And suddenly, her hand was free, free. Not bothering to look back, to see why her mother no longer held Mary against her will, Mary broke out into a run, rushing to make it before her time was up.
Glass? What glass? The ghost, the dark winged angel, embraced Mary, her tiny mouth formed in a warm smile.
End of Part One
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Hum...yeah, just felt like doing something with reflections, I guess. Really gotta go, though. No time to make it really good...
