“Are you sure?
“Yes, totally. It’ll be perfect.”
“But look at it, the gilt is flaky and the glass is foxed.”
“I don’t want something all shiny.”
“Mirrors are supposed to be shiny! but if you want it darling daughter, you shall have it.”
Laura put the mirror on the hook and stepped back. The mirror was in the hallway between the living room and the front door of her flat and was perfect to quickly check her hair and makeup before leaving. It fitted in with the Victorian look of the conversion and she was thrilled with it.
Laura the mirror gave her a thrill every time she used it. One day, out of the corner of her eye there seemed to be a second figure lurking on the edge but as she looked closely, she could only see herself. Maybe the foxing created an optical illusion? She shrugged and carried on.
Over the days, this impression grew stronger. Each time the shadow seemed to get clearer but as she turned to the mirror it faded. She got the impression it was a man and took to saying goodbye as she left. She felt the mirror was watching over the flat while she was away.
She’d decided he was a Paul. This time as she left, the fleeting appearance seemed to stay. She looked carefully Paul was looking at her and his hand seemed to be pressed to the glass. She hesitantly put her hand out…
“Where do you want the mirror Guv?”
“In the skip. I always hated it and now she’s gone I don’t want it around”
As the mirror was thrown into the skip it almost looked as if two hands, a man and a woman, were pressing against the glass from inside.
