The Mirror

The smell of aftershave hits my nostrils. I quickly pinch myself trying to make myself wake up. I

can’t be here again, I don't want to see him.

Wake up, Cesar. Wake up!!!!

The wallpaper yellowed and blurred clings to the aging walls. These walls I grew up in so many

decades ago. They still haunt me. The aftershave intensifies as I look up towards the end of the

short hallway. Steam slowly slendering out of the bathroom door.

Wake up now!

I feel myself crying. The tears slowly trickling down my prepubescent face. I have had this

dream so many times and I am always the same age. A slender 12 year old frame with corduroy

pants and a checkered shirt. The steam and smell of sandalwood etching closer to my frozen

feet.

It is always the same. Yellowed wallpaper, 70s clothing, aftershave, steam, and him. The fear

floods my veins as the smell becomes unbearable.

I slowly take the steps to the bathroom door. The quicker I see him, the quicker I wake up in my

own bed. Shaking and scared, but safe and sound.

I hear him hum. As always. A slow guttural hum that seeps into my subconscious even at times

when I'm awake.

My shaky hand reaches the door knob and I slowly turn it. Maybe this is the night I finally ask

him, “Who are you?”. Maybe tonight I will end this torment. I am suddenly overpowered with a

sudden wave of courage.

Enough is enough. Decades of the same dream over and over again.

I pull the door open, faster than usual, and there he is.

A head in the mirror. He is not facing me. All these years I just see the back of his head. But he

is there, humming his tune.

The courage intensifies.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I’m surprised by the voice that escapes my mouth. The

humming stops. I feel my heart beating in my ears. He slowly turns his head to face me.

I stare in shock. An eerie smile starts to form on his familiar face.

“Finally.” He breaths out as he closes his eyes slowly and sways his head back.

It’s me. I stare in horror as the reflection, this man that has haunted my dreams for decades, is me. He opens his eyes that are now pitch black, his smile fills his whole face and reaches his eyes in a way no human can do.

“What do you want!?” I yell as I pinch myself again trying to escape this nightmare.

“You.” he says as he reaches a long arm through the mirror and grabs my shirt.

I scream as I feel his hand grab my shirt and pull me in. Wake up, Cesar!!

I feel my body entering the mirror as my eyes fling open. Relief overwhelms me. I’m awake. I start to chuckle as I pat my body down to make sure I’m really awake. My eyes adjust to the room around me.

My breathing changes, this is not my room. I’m not in my bed. I turn around and see him again. He is med in the mirror, smiling at me with those black eyes and huge smile. .

I am in the mirror.

“Finally. After so many years, you have set me free. Thank you.” He speaks in a voice that is mine but distorted.

“What?” I shout at the top of my lungs and start banging the mirror. “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!”

“No.” he says. “Again, thank you for being so brave this time and talking to me. It took you years but guess it was worth it. I'll take care of your family, well my family.” he chuckled.

“Get me out!!” I scream. This can't be real. Wake up!

“Oh it is very real. Now it’s your turn to wait for someone to free you.” he says. He starts to fade.

“Help me!!!!!” I scream until my voice disappears.