They need to run away, but they don’t know where to. The Mirrors are everywhere. Thousands of Mirrors line the walls,
ILLUSTRATION BY KRIZZHA DEE
The ceiling, Even the floor is one immense, never-ending Mirror. The floor is a see-through Mirror, Revealing turbulent ocean waves of mirrors below. And Opal fears one small erroneous step will shatter the glass construction they tremble on, That they will fall down below and drown in that furious sea of mirrors. Falling
Falling
Falling
Failing
Failing
Falling
Falling
Failing
Failing
Failing
Is what the mirrors around Opal say. If Opal falls, they will have to swim their way out, or be lost forever. But Opal never learned how to swim. How does Opal run away without breaking the glass floor? If Opal stays, they have to listen to the Mirrors. The Mirrors whisper, moan, cry, howl, bawl, shriek, whoop, squawk— A cacophony of tormenting voices battling for dominance in his perfidious hall. Did you feed the dog yet?
Why haven’t you started your essays yet??? You’re going to fail your classes
Why did you say that??? You’re so embarrassing!!!
Don’t act like that! Change—quick, quick!! You’re slacking, get to work
Did you screw this up?
So, sooo many things to do right now. Why are you not doing them???
There’s not enough time in the world—yet there’s too much time in the world!!
Why did they say that? Are they acting differently?
Just do it, just work, it’s not that hard, you’re overreacting
Bills bills bills!!! Everything is hopeless You need more caffeine. You want it to comfort you, but it electrifies you.
The coffee cup is another mirror—you’ll see your face in it.
Does your hair look better like this or like that? What does everyone else think?
When is enough enough?
What a weird word—enough. Looks weird, doesn’t it?
The Mirrors encircle Opal, ravenous lions preying on a hamster. They distort and straighten and distort again and Opal questions if it’s their imagination or if it’s Real, Wonders how we separate our imagination from our reality, Or if they are one and the same. The bejeweled mirrors magnify the Mirrors’ voices, beautifully enchanting tempters Luring Opal, begging them to come closer. When the fractured Mirrors project haunting reflections of past lives, When they play the memories others forgot like a repulsive film, Opal questions why these memories are entangled in these glass webs, But not the webs of those who forgot. The burden of memory becomes too much for Opal.
10
WRITTEN BY DARYA JAFARINEJAD
Opal is trapped in a Hall of Mirrors.
SRORRIM FO LLAH
HALL OF MIRRORS
22 WEST MAGAZINE CREATIVE
Opal sprints away.
