by Evan Baughfman In the funhouse mirror, Paul looked ridiculously out of proportion—legs stubby, torso stretched out like taffy. His arms were disjointed giraffe limbs, impossibly long and spindly. “Disgusting,” Paul spat. He modelled for local shops. Usually, mirrors were his friends. His distorted reflection grinned huge teeth, even as Paul grimaced. He lifted a […]
by Susan Monroe McGrath “Hold still.” Before I can protest, my sister yanks a hair from my scalp. “Got it!” She holds the gleaming grey strand like a trophy. “Once you find the first grey hair, it’s all downhill.” I retreat to the bathroom and stare into the mirror. Another grey hair. Sigh. I mimic […]
by Randall Andrews In the south of Australia, an editor sits at his desk wielding a magical red pen. The story before him morphs with his every deft touch, the words shifting and shuffling on the page. After an hour, he flips to the last page of the manuscript, tweaking the author’s bio ever so […]
by C.L. Sidell “Steer clear of Marwynn’s Pond.” Curious to see this forbidden place, I creep past Crocus Lane into Farthery Forest. The pond appears after an hour of hiking, water glinting where sunrays touch it through the coniferous canopy. Crouching at the bank, I peer into its silvery depths and see myself—eyes brighter, face […]
by Dillon Hendrick There’s a mirror in the woods, and this sounds crazy, but I think it can tell the future. I found it while wearing new hiking gear, but in my reflection, I had a gaping hole in the knee of my pants. Bewildered, I kept hiking. Moments later, I fell, ripping my pants. […]
by Giulietta Nardone Lisbeth knelt on the smooth rock and peered into the lake. The face of an attractive young woman reflected back. But it wasn’t her face. “I’ve been down here for 100 years,” cried the reflection. “I long to breathe fresh air again. Would you please trade places for just one night?” Lisbeth […]
by T.J. Gallasch You try to ignore us; believe you succeed. Splashing water across the bathroom mirror merely blurs our smile. Each puddle you splash in, each shop window you rush by. You don’t notice us getting closer. You doze on the bus ride in; we creep and sneak, almost there. Twenty floors up is […]
by Bud Pharo “Do you think I’m heavy?” she asked her mirror. “Yes, but I’ll transform you!” the mirror replied. Every day she asked and received the same answer, “Yes, but I’ll transform you!” Weeks turned to months and months to years; the same question yielded the same emphatic assertion, “I’ll transform you!” Exhaustion displaces […]
by P.N. Harrison Some long for the sounds, the telltale thud and the two thumps that follow close behind. The bliss that belies the shriek or the yelp or shout. Others strive for sensation, that moment of catharsis, in the impact. The reverberations that transfer from bones to wheels to chassis to bones. But me? […]
by Kristin Lennox “MOVE, ASSHOLE!” Horn blaring, Marvin swerved between lanes, flipping off the minivan that dared to drift into his path. Fucking Sunday drivers. Only suckers use mirrors while driving, but the reflection in his rearview caught Marvin’s eye—what the…? The back window was spiderwebbed with cracks, the seat crumpled inward and soaked crimson […]