Sitting on the large bed, I can see myself in the mirror. I wonder why they have chosen to put the mirror there. It’s weird, accidentally seeing yourself all the time. Sometimes it feels like there is someone else in the room, staring back at me. I almost want to touch the mirror, because somehow I feel like if I put my hand against the mirror, it will go through it. And I will end up in The Other Side. The thought both fascinates and scares me. Mirrors have too much mythical meaning. I don’t like them. As I sit here, getting ready to go to bed, something catches my eye and for a moment I swear I see something in the mirror. A part of me is sure it wasn’t my own reflection, but my rational brain knows that it must have been. I ignore it, put on the music and walk into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, I’m in my bed. As I check the last few things on my phone, I can’t help but glancing at the mirror every now and then, but my own reflection is the one looking back. A bit agitated, I put my phone away and try to fall asleep. It takes a very long while before all thoughts are silenced and I drift of to sleep, though even in my sleep I am restless.
I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling clammy and hot. I want to turn around to get more comfortable, but something in the corner of my eye, makes me freeze on the spot. All my limbs turn to jelly. In the mirror, there is someone lying next to me, curled up under the sheets. She is sleeping peacefully. I turn my head slowly, my heart pounding in my ears. In my bed, there is no one. It’s just me, but as I look in the mirror, I see her still. I slowly sit up straight, looking closer to the mirror. With another shock, I realise the girl looks a lot like me, but also not. She has the same nose I dislike so much, but her skin is smooth and her hair is darker, nearly black. She seems to be wearing some sort of black nightgown. It’s something I would never wear, but somehow it suits her.
Very carefully I crawl to the edge of the bed, closer to the mirror. Curiosity has taken over from fear, though my fear is definitely still there. I reach out my hand and touch the glass. Or well, I try to touch the glass, but my hand slides through it. I whimper, but don’t pull back, even though my heart seems to beat out of my chest. My arm slides through the mirror into the other room. Then my chest, my head, my legs, until I have completely stepped into this new and intriguing world. The girl… me…. I? She is still sleeping on the bed. She seems to lay unnaturally still. I glance behind me where I can see my own room reflected in the same mirror. The bed is empty over there. I look around. The Other Side is the same, in general, but there are all small details that differ. My possessions that are scattered across the room, are mine, but somehow more edgy. Some things I would like to have and wear, but never would.
I turn back to the bed. I almost scream. She is sitting up straight and is looking at me. A grin plays on her face. It’s an expression I have never seen on my own face. It creates goosebumps on my arms and makes a shiver run down my spine. I want to speak, but my mouth feels as dry as a desert. The confidence radiating from her makes me feel self-conscious. She tilts her head as if she is waiting for me to do something. A part of me wants to stretch out my hand and touch her… me?, but my anxiety takes over and steps back, tumbling out of the mirror. I fall on my back, the bed catching me. I scramble up, but even as I do, I can see only my own, pale reflection looking back. Tears are shining in my eyes as I look at the person I so deeply dislike.
