Mirror, Mirror

(Follows Veritas, Libertas)

Esther stared into the mirror. She didn't particular hate what she saw anymore, but she wasn't satisfied.

The mirror was old, full-length, and heavy. It was a box of old polished oak, showing her another world. Another universe. Another Esther. The other Esther was staring at her. Her eyes were sharp, focused, a shade of blue bright enough to hurt her eyes. Esther couldn't look away, not yet.

Her own eyes were a soft almost-green, the color of water in a deep pool. Esther once would have asked who was on the other side of the mirror. Now, Esther knew. A faint frown came to her lips.

A fainter smile came to another Esther's face. Her hand reached out and whether Esther's hand followed, or whether the other Esther answered her movement, she'd never know. Their fingertips touched, and she felt a great heat.

“Esther, need you to drive me to Dwight's!” David walked by, clean-shaved but with bedraggled hair, pressed shirt and tie with a dirty, old coat and sneakers. The other Esther smiled wider. Her teeth were sharp. A stud more like a spike danced between them on her tongue. “Esther, you coming?”

She snapped out of it. “Y-yes, sir. Right away. Doesn't Glenn normally drive you?” Her accent wasn't as thick as it once was – she'd been practicing. She was an assistant now – she had to assist. She finally had the part she'd always dressed for – simple and conservative, sweaters and long skirts. Her high, black boots were her one bit of rebellion – something David didn't seem to mind. If anything, he always seemed to smile when he noticed them.

Esther smiled to herself before looking back at the mirror. Her own reflection, calm and sweet, was smiling back at her.

“Glenn's my lawyer, not my PA. And technically, he's not even a lawyer yet. Really, I'm just freeloading here. You, however, are my assistant. So please – assist. Drive?” He grabs two pieces of toast that Glenn is already holding out to him. “See? Freeloading. How else would I eat every day?”

Esther shook her head. She enjoyed being David's assistant – it was nice to feel so needed.

Maybe one day she'd even pay him back.

The other Esther, the one on the mirror's other side, watched them leave. Glenn moved to the couch, newspaper in hand. “Aren't you following them?” The mirror was empty by the time he looked back.

Glenn sighed and took a bite of his toast. “Sometimes, there's not enough room for the four of us...” His coffee started bubbled hot in response. “Indeed,” he mused, and sipped it.