kaolin fire presents :: writing :: fiction

"WrinkleInTheMirror.0"

words

Jean-anne looked at the wrinkle in the mirror; put her finger to her face, to trace the line, but her face was smooth, even under the makeup. She touched the mirror, then, and felt the glass give.

She pulled her hand back, and looked deeper into the glass. Behind her reflection, there was another. A little girl, light blue headband; simple dress with a thin jean belt. Was that her?

She touched her hand to the mirror, or tried to--it went through with no resistance, and she cupped the girl's face in her palm. "I miss you," Jean-anne whispered. The girl nuzzled into her hand.

Henry's voice came in from the hall--"What's taking so long, Jean?"

The mirror snapped around her finger, and she cursed.

"You okay?"

"Fine. I'm fine." She licked the blood from her finger, and explored with her eyes the mirror where it had bitten her. "I'm almost done. Everything's just going so quickly. I never expected it to go so quickly..." She could see cracks in the mirror, in her face--around her eyes, at the edges of her lips. How old was she, now?

"What?" He poked his head in the door, looking worried.

She smiled at him, a weak smile that took all her strength. "I'm almost done."