Mom doesn’t let me play outside much because she's afraid of germs and strangers approaching me. I do not have siblings and I wait with great excitement for my play dates. This means I rely on my imagination to play everyday. There are some days I am bored out of my mind. I remember this one day, I was tired of playing with my dolls alone. I had a great idea to entertain myself. My mom hung this big long mirror in the hallway. It was so big it looked like a door. I figured I could play with my reflection and pretend I had a friend. The first time I played, I pretended I was a reporter and I was asking my reflection questions to unsolved a mystery. It was so much fun, even if it was just myself. As I laughed at the mirror and carried on with my interview, my grandma caught a glimpse of me. I continued playing until my grandma came and yelled “Who are you talking to?” With an annoyed face I responded “Grandma, it's just make believe” That response seemed to upset my grandma even more. “You do not talk to a mirror, that will make you crazy!” she said as she pushed me from the front of the mirror. Upset at her, I just ran into my room.
Grandma is just old, she doesn't understand make believe, that is what I told myself. The next day, I made sure grandma was not nearby and resumed playing with my reflection. I looked at my reflection and playfully told her, “Do not worry, I am not going anywhere, we will always play together.” I continued to let her know about myself, my family and how my day at school went. It was fun to have a buddy to speak with. My playtime with the mirror was cut when mom called for dinner. As I looked at the mirror, I kissed my reflection and told her “I will be back”. As I got away from the mirror I looked back and my reflection waved. I was excited and a bit confused. I just winked and ran to have dinner.
Several days later, I continued to play with the mirror in hopes my reflection will wave to me again. She did not wave back but playtime with her was amazing. We will brush our hair, talk about the new doll we had our eyes on and pretend to be reporters. As I was talking to my reflection about my new outfit for picture day, grandma called out for me. I quickly grabbed a notebook and pen as I laid myself in front of the mirror pretending to be drawing. “There you are, and again in front of that mirror!” grandma said annoyed. “I am just drawing grandma” I lied. “Honey, I heard you talking to the mirror. Please don’t do that. Mirrors are tricky for they are doors to other dimensions” grandma said with great concern. “Other dimensions? What is that?” I asked. Grandma struggling to inform me said “ Other worlds, honey. The reflection you see is a disguise for spirits to come into our world”. I laughed “Grandma that’s nuts!” I continued to scribble on the notebook but my grandma just stared at the mirror as she stood and looked at me. “No talking to the mirror” she said firmly. I nodded my head in agreement as she walked away. I looked at my reflection and winked at her. My reflection let out a giggle. My grandma looked back as I reassured her that I would do as she says.
With so much excitement I invited my cousin for a sleepover. I wanted to show her the tricks my reflection did. I had to be sneaky for grandma was very upset to see me talking to the mirror. When everyone was asleep, I took my cousin to the hallway. She was doubting the possibility of my reflection waving or giggling on her own but eager to see it do something. As we sat in front of the big mirror with a flashlight in hand, I said hi to my reflection. She was just doing everything I did. I continued talking to her about my day and how my cousin and I were playing with dolls. My cousin mockingly said “So when will she come out and play?” I told her to be patient and to keep it down for I did not want to wake anyone up. As I looked to my cousin standing in back of me, she had a frightened look. “What, what’s wrong?” I asked. She pointed at the mirror. As I turned around, I saw my reflection staring back at me, doing the same things I was doing. “I don’t see anything.” I said as I looked at my cousin through the mirror. “As you turned around to speak to me, your reflection stayed looking straight! That is creepy! I don’t want to keep playing this!” she ran back to my room upset. I tried to hush her and go after her but I was curious. I stepped back in front of the mirror. “Did you really just do that?” I asked. I placed both my hands on the mirror and traced my refection’s figure. All I heard was heavy breathing coming from the mirror. I placed my ear on the mirror and I heard muffled voices. I stepped back and stared at my reflection. She was standing still waving at me slowly to come closer again. I nodded no for I was frightened. My reflection was upset and placed both hands on the mirror. I heard a piercing scream and an invisible force pushed me towards the mirror creating a slight crack where my head hit the surface.
The following day, I was awakened by my mom yelling “Breakfast is ready!” My cousin and I got out of bed for we were hungry and the pancakes smelled great. As I passed by the big mirror in the hallway, I touched my forehead. There was no bump or scratch. I looked back at the mirror and saw there was a small crack where I was pushed. I looked into the mirror searching for my reflection to do something again but all was normal. My grandma was calling for me by this time. I was not at the table having breakfast. I kept looking hard into the mirror as searching for something. My reflection stared back at me, with tears in her eyes she placed both hands pounding on the mirror. No sound this time but her face was in agony. I took several steps back until I bumped my grandma’s body. My reflection resumed doing what I was doing. My grandma kneeling in front of me and asked “What’s wrong?” I looked into her eyes and said “Nothing”. Grandma placed both hands on my shoulders and shook me “Who are you? What have you done with my granddaughter?” I looked at her confused but then looked back at the mirror with a grin observing the other me.
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