Mirror, mirror

The mirror looked like any other as Susan Hatt hung it on the wall. Maybe a little old-fashioned. Or a tad bit dusty. There was some cloudiness that no amount of cleaning could get off the glass. Like it was trapped between the glass and the old silvering. But that was part of its charm. It’s authenticity. The gold frame really sparked that witchy vibe she was going for against her forest green walls. As inheritance went, it wasn’t amazing, but it had history.

“Not Bad.” Susan said, stepping back to take in the full effect of the mirror hanging in a place of honor above her hip-high mahogany bookshelves organized by color, height, and genre. 

“Hmmm,” A stuffy slightly Italian voice said from somewhere in the room. “I think the color of our dress clashes with your eyes.”

“Wha…” Susan spun around looking toward the front door. No one was there. No one was in the house. “Who’s there?” Susan called panic rising in her chest.

“Tedious,” The voice huffed. “How is it that talking mirrors are a part of history and still no one ever expects me.”

“Talking wha…?” Susan gasped, turning to inspect the mirror. There was nothing but her own shocked expression reflected back to her. No floating head like in snow white. But something was off. Her reflection wasn’t…right?

“Darling,” her reflection sighed and placed her hand on her cocked hip. But Susan was not moving; her non-reflected self was frozen in shock.

“How?” Susan stepped back from the mirror as if space would change something. But the reflection moved forward. She pressed her hand to the glass. “How are you doing this?”

“Really, how? Again tedious. Why does everyone ask how? Shouldn’t you be asking why? Why is a much more interesting question.”

“I’m pretty sure how is a great question.” Susan laughed in a way that if overheard would get her a fast pass straight to the Loonie bin. In fact, maybe that was how. Susan was having a mental breakdown.

“No, I’m sure why is much more interesting.”

“Fine. Why then, why is my mirror talking to me?”

“Oh, there is the juicy question. So many more interesting answers than how.”

“Like?” Susan asked, losing patience with the overly talkative mirror.

“Well firstly because I’m here to help. Like I did for your great aunt, and great great aunt all the way back to the middle ages.”