I’m an audience for decades now and no one knows I’m watching.
—
1945
“Ssshhh,” I whispered to myself.
Hiding behind my wooden closet across my huge mirror, trembling with fear, I am finding it hard to breathe.
“Please, Lord, don’t let them see me, please, oh please.”
2015
“You’re such a beautiful lass,” I giddily tell myself as I stand in front of my antique mirror.
I’m finding it hard to apply my eyeliner. Argh! Why can’t I control my nerves?
Yep. I’m too excited, for him to see me.
1945
Blood. My toe is surely bleeding now.
I tried to go out quick and get a bandage.
I am almost near across the mirror, when I heard loud footsteps. They’re coming.
2015
One hour. That’s how long, or maybe how short, our first date was.
I can’t remember the details but it was great! Because I invited him here at my room!
As I sneak a look at his handsome face reflected in my mirror, I know my decision is right.
1945
I tried to be as small as I can be. I tried to stop any noise from me, even my own ragged breathing.
But I can hear the soldiers’ voices, in foreign language, go louder as they come near me.
I want to take a peek at the mirror again. But I stopped myself.
2015
I know it’s too late now to be such a conservative lady.
It’s already 2015, so it’s no big deal. This is love at first sight, indeed.
How did I know? Well, he just wrote ‘I love you’ in my mirror!
1945
I almost jumped when someone grabbed me.
Now he’s dragging me towards my bed as his two comrades cheer him up.
I screamed, to no avail.
I look at myself in the mirror, as he lay me down on my own bed.
I am seeing myself, for the last time.
2015
I know I almost planned for this but I am still somehow surprised when he started kissing me.
His lips are now invading mine, I like it at first but… I’m feeling a bit uneasy now.
I tried to push him away as he tries to lay me down.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said as I try to stop him. “No!” he shouted.
My eyes went wide, as through my mirror I see him pull out a pocket knife.
—-
©2015 Rosemawrites@A Reading Writer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Tumblr
In response to Writing 101:
Day 18: Compose a series of anecdotes
Today, tell a story through a series of anecdotes (also called vignettes): short, episodic scenes or moments that together read as variations on the same theme. They can each be as short or long as you see fit — they don’t have to be the same length — but they need a common feature to tie them together, whether it’s a repeated phrase, a similar setting, a literary device, or the appearance of the same person.
I enjoyed reading your anecdotes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! I hope it isn’t too disturbing. 🙂
LikeLike
😮 The end was jolting! Nice parallel between the two time periods.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thank you! I avoided mentioning the nationality of the soldiers. But that 1945 scene was somehow based on the Philippines history. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a very good consideration to think about!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! 😀
LikeLike
Great writing on a disturbing topic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mandi. The dark writer in me strikes again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really a scary set of anecdotes
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Maria. Sorry for getting too disturbing.
Thank you for reading and for leaving your thoughts!
LikeLike
Rosemary these old pieces of furniture have a lot of stories to tell good and bad and we live in perilous times and people before us did. The question is how to get on living after divers traumas have happened
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Maria.
LikeLike
Lovely connection with the two stories and the mirror
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thank you for reading and for your comment. I hope I made sense. 😀
LikeLike
I can see a trend…puro disturbing ang themes mo lately haha! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oo nga e! Nakakaloka! Masaya naman ako pero yung mga istorya ko ang da-dark!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting Rosema. I was wondering what it would be like if the mirrors were in the same room and the bed in the room was the same as well. Only the years and the people had changed. Thanks for giving a boost to my imagination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Arpita! 😀 Yes, you got it right. It’s the same mirror. Though I wasn’t able to highlight the ‘antique’ in 2015 parts hoping that my opening statement will do. 😀
Thank you for reading and for sharing your insightful thoughts, Appy! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Mirror: A Vignette (I haven’t written this story on a bus but the main concept and idea was formed while I am standing on a bus!) […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really strong – you get a real sense of the characters and the peril that is left at the end of the story. I really enjoyed the split between the years, and the image of the mirror as a tie between both times. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh wow! how’d you find this buried post, Emma? 😀 😀 😀
Thank you of seeing the essence of this dark post, clearly! You are a keen reader! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed it! It was a linked to on one of your other posts, I’m glad I got to see it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah. I forgot about that. 😀
Thank you very much, Emma! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] 11.25.2015 ©2016 Rosemawrites@A Reading Writer […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] 12.09.2015 ©2016 Rosemawrites@A Reading Writer […]
LikeLike