A Glass Darkly

She plops dejectedly the seat in front of her vanity. Took an exasperated breath, she's done for the day. Her body swaying with each breath she took, she couldn't sit still. Frazzled mind, frazzled body, quite a mannequin-like but there's still a little of life left within her. With tired and loopy eyes, she stared at herself, emotionlessly. It was as if she spaced out while staring at her own eyes through the mirror.

Mirror mirror on the wall.

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So many stories about mirrors and reflections, from horror to fantasy. In reality, neither the Evil Queen will imprison her in that mirror nor Bloody Mary would hop out of it and bleed her to death. A charming personality, she is a beauty. She won't ask if she's the fairest of them all. Tugging a strand of hair at the back of her left ear, she thought, it was an unimportant question; one that had been answered a lot. She sighs as if to clarify that there are still a few breaths left in her. She blinks, she's tired of the staring contest with herself but she hasn't looked away either. She was dressed up for an occasion.

A tissue was peeping its head out from the box at the corner of the dressing table. In one swift action, she takes it out without removing her eyes from the reflection. She drops a generous amount of toner on it and smudges the lipstick on her lips. She quickly grabs another tissue and goes with the same process to remove her eyeshadows. She pauses. Her breaths are unrhythmic. She squints her brows and closes her eyes; she is tired of her own appearance and reflection. No preparations for a Royal Ball. Still, her appearance suggested a soirée of some sort, one that she didn't enjoy. She looks back at her reflection and hurriedly got rid of the rest of her makeup.

Now she sees someone who vaguely matches with her.

She is alive but hasn't felt that in her bones for a long time. This isn't the life she chose willingly, she got dealt a bad hand. If it was anyone else, they'd laugh at her, be astonished that she despises her life. What's to despise about it!! A swanky apartment, all the bling that twinkles in every other woman's eyes, clothes to be green with envy, and everything that a girl could dream of.

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Unlike other girls, she never wanted a life like this. I bet you're thinking what a fool she is, regardless, she'd be happier in a small apartment along with bare necessities to sustain her regular life. No one knows how haunting a huge beautiful apartment gets when no other soul is residing in there except her. A diamond necklace feels as if it's a wire that's choking the life out of her and the exclusive cosmetics make her unrecognizable to even herself. But her crowd only sees the facade and believes it's real. A pretty little thing like her shouldn't be worrying about such outrageous things, that's what her agent says. But he doesn't understand that she's done being that sweet thing that poses for fashion magazines.

She was so lost in her own mind she didn't hear the loud banging on her door. Paying no heed to any call. Someone is screaming her name from the other side of the door. Startled for a moment she scanned at the door, takes a moment to compose herself, and get's up from her chair. It's her bodyguard who reminds her that she has to head home. Home! It wasn't home, just a place that she lives her wasteful life in. She tells him to take off and informs him that she'll manage her transportation. There are things she wants to do. Escape, that's the first and foremost. Well, it's a safe bet that no one will recognize her without her glamourous look. She hopes to blend in with the crowd and perhaps start afresh.

An escape she will make.