The Lady in the Mirror
Erin took off her hat and picked up the brush on the table. Staring at the mirror before her, she started running it through her hair, slowly, purposefully.
“He let you down again, didn’t he,” said the lady in the mirror quite matter-of-factly. She too was brushing her hair in slow, purposeful strokes.
A little spasm passed over Erin’s lips, but she said nothing. She kept on brushing.
“He always does this to you. Always with a pitiful excuse, always letting you down. Why do you allow this?”
She hesitated before responding. “He is good and kind to me.”
A scoff. The lady in the mirror kept on brushing her hair, but her brows were furrowed now. “He is good at disappointing you, and he is kind enough to continue hurting you. What a man.”
She slapped the brush on the table and glared at the woman before her. “I do not enjoy this derisiveness. You know he has been busy lately. He has a perfectly acceptable excuse.”
The lady in the mirror glared back. A slow smile played on her lips. “Ah, but you enjoy the pain, love. An excuse is still an excuse, and he has given you far too many.”
The lady picked up the brush again and began running it through her hair. “You enjoy being deluded, and for what reason? Because it is comforting to have someone instead of no one? Because you think no one else will pay you the attention you desire? Because you like indulging in make-believe and fairytales?” The lady laughed. “Please. You know that you deserve better. You’re just a masochist that enjoys-“
The soliloquy was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. Erin saw the lady in the mirror roll her eyes right before she put the brush down and move to the entryway.
Opening the door, she saw that it was Luis, looking directly at her feet, biting his lip. She felt a familiar pounding in her chest.
He held out a bouquet of flowers to her, still without looking at her directly. “I know I let you down again, and I feel terrible about that. I just wanted to say sorry, and that I’ll do my best to stop disappointing you.”
She took the flowers in her arms and began caressing their petals. “I don’t know if I can take anymore of this, Luis.”
He took her free hand in both of his. “Please, Erin. I’ll change. I will. For you.”
She blushed and pulled her hand away from his grip. “You always say that, but you never do.” She thrust the bouquet into his arms. “Please go.”
Erin turned away, and she could see the glint of a smile in the mirror. With a deep breath, she moved to close the door, but he pushed against it.
“Please, Erin. Please. I love you.”
She stopped. “He never said those words before,” she whispered, as she turned to the mirror. “Never.”
She thought she saw the lady shake her head, but she wasn’t sure, nor did she care. She had already opened the door, wrapped her arms around Luis, and kissed him.
They held each other for a while and broke apart with wide smiles. He handed her the flowers once more, and she accepted them happily.
Just as he was closing the door behind them, she caught the disapproving glance of the lady in the mirror. Turning away, she fell into his arms and kissed him again.
–
Image source: deviantart.com/aimeelikestotakepics/art/mirror-mirror-134524962
First written January 31, 2018.
#122