Mirror, Mirror

The only thing linking two worlds, the remnants of sand. One where it held together, and one where it crumbled. Reflection is a privilege reserved only for the former. Gone are the days of pen and paper, wall and stone. One need not worry of the pitfalls of such vanity. There is no attempt to match one another. What you see is what you get.

British Columbia, 2327. A large mountain city lays nestled just beneath the clouds. Within the city walls is a community bustling with prosperity. Half a million people live without fear of war or hunger. Violence is possible but improbable. Disease is alive but all are well.

The expanse is composed of row after row of one level housing. Each made from wood and brick, surrounded by greenery. The only structures of more than one story are those of the Administration.

Colin sits in his front garden absorbing the morning growth as others pass by. He feeds pumpkin seeds to his chipmunk friend who pays him his daily visit. His companion Elsa joins him on the grass as they both contemplate what the day will bring. They stare into each other’s eyes and know there is no need to look elsewhere.

“How can anyone be so beautiful?” He questioned with the softest smirk.

“Thank you love. I often ask myself the same thing about you. But enough of that. You need to get going and do what you do best.”

As Elsa rose to her feet and entered the house, Colin froze in thought. Is he really as beautiful as she says he is? He’ll have to take her word for it. He has no choice. Never in his life has he looked upon his own visage. Never has he stared into his own blemishes or fixed his hair to his liking. It is just not done.

Like all citizens, he was taught from a very young age that one shall never seek or create a reflection of one’s appearance for it is the root of all evil. To do so is of the highest crime in the land. There are no mirrors or reflective materials of any kind. All bodies of water must be in constant motion and only entered when in low light. There are no drawing materials or surfaces available. Writing is only permitted in digital form.

The Hallowed Parchment warns of a time when humanity almost destroyed itself. A horrific war wiped out most of the world’s population. The land was left poisoned and uninhabitable. The few people that remained made their way to higher ground to escape the contamination. Here they established the city of Genoaw. A heaven for the repentant. God has ordained that he will give the human race one last chance to get it right. It was stated that vanity, in one shape or form, was the cause of all of history’s mistakes. All of evolution was undone by emptiness. No longer would wealth or desire rule the people. All would inherit the same possessions and work for the service of the community. The Administration would provide security, healthcare and law.

“Beware vanity, it is the Devil’s scepter. God’s children will continue to kill for sport and personal gain if this weapon continues to be wielded. People will forever murder for land and possessions if this one true evil is not squashed out. Peace will reign supreme when the ego is imprisoned.”

- The Hallowed Parchment 1:1

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Colin’s curiosity was getting the better of him. He knows this sort of thinking could lead down a dangerous path, for him and his people. As he often does when he’s in this train of thought, he slowly touches his face. Feeling every bone, bump and sinew. Suddenly, he snaps out of it, fearing that someone may notice his odd behavior. He knows he has to refocus his efforts on his work.

As a baker of fine breads, Colin must ensure he attends his vocation at a prompt hour in order to meet his daily quota. He takes great pride in providing a much-enjoyed service for the people. He is revered as one of the finest bakers for not only the taste of his breads but also the creative way in which he designs them. He can make a loaf of sourdough look like a bird with the most exquisite detail. Today he has decided to make bread sticks that look like his chipmunk friend.

After completing the first batch, Colin begins to knead the dough for the next. He suddenly finds himself in deep thought about appearances. Why can we acknowledge other’s faces but not our own? What is it about his face that Elsa finds beautiful? Why does he find Elsa breathtaking? It is forbidden to acknowledge one’s beauty but encouraged to praise another’s. Aren’t we better than this? Are we so weak that we can’t handle what we truly are? The ego will always be in control if we remain in fear of its power.

Colin tried to shake these intense feelings that were building, but as his artisan hands started to shape the form of the dough, the image of Elsa remained burned in his mind. He looked away from his hands and gazed straight past the wall. His hands remained in motion as he slowly moved the bread to be, in delicate motions. Feeling every bump, crevice and curve he began to sculpt the most magnificent thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

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It was closing time at the bakery. Colin said goodbye to the last customer and performed his usual end of day duties. For the first time ever, he was nervous about leaving the store. There was an uneasiness about what lay beyond those doors. Nevertheless, he packed his satchel with food to bring home and locked up as per his normal routine.

“Try something new today Colin?”

“What?!?” Colin answered with a startled look. The local landscaper Kent was working on a rose garden in front of the shoemakers across the road.

“I said, did you try something new today? You know,” Kent clarified with a smile, “something different that you’ve never done before…a pack of dire wolves, or perhaps bread that looks like the main Citadel.”

“Oh..uh no, nothing special. I guess I wasn’t feeling inspired today. Next time,” he answered with relief.

“You planning on a feast tonight?” Kent prodded with laughter. “It looks like you got enough bread in that satchel to feed the whole neighborhood on Celebration Day. It’s overflowing.”

“Oh haha, no. I just made a special treat for my companion, that’s all.”

“Well, isn’t that lovely. Mind if I take a look?” Kent gestured towards the satchel as he stepped closer.

“No! I mean, I wouldn’t want the bread to dry out and ruin the surprise for her.”

Kent stared for a moment that seemed like an eternity to Colin. The two nodded their heads and parted. Never had Colin’s heart raced forward at such a pace. He couldn’t get home fast enough yet couldn’t risk walking at any greater speed than usual. Every person he passed along the way felt like a giant pair of eyes zeroing in on him. The guilt had become an anchor as he desperately tried to strive forward.

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Alas, Colin was home and dry. He paced back and forth in the dining room as he awaited his love to come home, grasping the heart-shaped locket that she had given him for comfort. On the table was the satchel. It had so quickly become a symbol of deceit. For a moment he considered destroying the evidence. Out of the kitchen drawer he grabbed the long and jaded bread knife. Slowly approaching the satchel like a stealth attacker, the knife dropped to the floor. He quickly remembered why he was doing this and splashed some water on his face to find composure.

The front door opened, which startled Colin. He carefully crept around the corner to see Elsa removing her shoes. Suddenly, Colin’s anxiety turned to pure unbridled excitement.

“My love, come here. I have a surprise for you.”

“Okay, let me just freshen up first.” She spoke with a casual air.

“No this can’t wait. Come.” He took her hand and escorted her to the dining room table. “Do you know how truly beautiful you are? You are even beyond that in my eyes. This is a token of my affection.”

Out of the satchel, Colin pulled a large and circular bread. Upon its surface was an almost exact visage of Elsa. It even had the personality trait of an ever so slight smile of anticipation written across its face. Her face.

“What? What is this?” she asked softly in utter confusion.

“It’s you. It’s you Elsa. At least it’s how I see you.”

Elsa stared at the creation in awe for a few moments. Then she looked back at Colin with sadness.

“It’s for you. I did this for you,” he said trying to explain the moment.

Elsa looked back at the sculpture and started to move her hand across it. Tears started to flow as she came to the realization of what she was looking at. Giggles of joy soon followed.

“Is this really what I look like? It’s nothing like I imagined. I mean maybe a slightly smaller nose. But it’s beautiful. Thank you, my love.”

All the intensity of joy was quickly replaced by the intensity of fear as she came to terms with what her companion had just done.

“Do you know what you’ve done!?! They’ll come for you! We must destroy this at once. Nobody can ever know.” She spoke frantically in as low a voice as possible.

“Elsa. Elsa! Calm down. It’s okay. Here is the knife. We will cut it up now if that’s what you want. I just wanted you to see yourself, even if only for a moment.”

“Alright. I’m sorry. I know you meant well. Everything will be okay.” With quiet unease she embraced her companion.

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Colin sits in his front garden absorbing the morning growth. He awaits his daily furry visitor, but no chipmunk comes. He starts to notice the absence of passersby. There is an eerie feeling upon the early breeze. Something is amiss here.

He abruptly rises to his feet at the sound of in sync footsteps approaching. He considers running inside the house but knows it will only raise suspicion.

Four officers all clad in dark red approach. They are of the highest order of The Administration.

“We have been informed that you have broken the sacred law of the creation of one’s human image.” The head officer had spoken sternly.

“I have no knowledge of this, sir,” Colin said in his most steady voice.

“We have proof.” The officer reaches into his bag and pulls out the sculpture of his companion.

“But it, how?” Colin questioned himself in disbelief.

How could they know? Did Kent the landscaper raise suspicion? But Elsa said she would destroy it. How did the officers even obtain the evidence without him knowing?

Just at that moment, a slender figure appeared from behind the hulking officers. It was Elsa.

“I’m sorry my love. But it had to be done. It’s for the good of the people. For the future of us all.” She spoke with her head tilted down, avoiding eye contact.

“I’m sorry too, my love,” he said while holding back tears. “Officer, what is to become of me?”

“You are to remain here and live your life as you always have.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“It is your companion that shall be brought to the Citadel for purification. She has seen her own visage and must be punished accordingly.”

“What?!? But I.” Elsa blurted out in horror just as the officers taped her mouth and bound her hands.

Within seconds, Colin was once more standing in his garden, alone. Sans image, sans Elsa.