by Barbara Dufrene

Created on: October 03, 2007

The Lady In The Mirror

I am so happy to see the lady in the mirror. She is a breath of fresh air compared to those that came before her.

It all started with this teenager staring at me for what seem like hours. She would examine her face, pick it, look at it from every angle imaginable. Then she would open her mouth wide, looking as far into her mouth that she could see. Often she would bring out some sort of tool to chisel away what she didn't like seeing. I don't miss her at all, thank goodness it's been many years since she has appeared in the mirror.

Shortly after her disappearance a young lady in her twenties took the space in the mirror. She held her chin and nose so high that I wondered how she would rinse her mouth out without dribbling it all over her body. She would look at me and turn her head slightly to the right, and then repeat the action to her left. Her shoulders played along with the movement of her head. Occasionally she would look at me as though I wasn't up to par. I knew she would blame me for anything that displeased her. Very often I heard her exhale air from her nose and move her lips in a disapproving fashion. If I could have kept her from the space in the mirror I would have. I just couldn't figure out how to keep her out. One day she was gone, and the person that replaced her was pitiful.

I was glad that the stuffy young lady was gone, but this thirty year old depressed woman was on my last nerve. I cringed when I would have to pass in front of the mirror. She was always there sad and lonely. I tried to talk to her on occasions and gave her some well meant advice, but she wouldn't listen to me. She would stare back and at times her face would distort from the intense stare. She frightened me.

The depressed woman left and in her place was a lifeless forty year old. Her skin tones were gray. I think her eyes were blue, but I could hardly tell because the gray overpowered anything bright about her. Her condition was contagious and she contaminated me. I knew this because people would ask me if I was feeling alright. Day in and day out people would ask if I was ill. I certainly was not ill, it was that woman in the mirror. How could I tell anyone that it was her affecting me with her illness. They would think I was crazy. I learned to avoid her space in the mirror as often as possible. I even learned how to brush my teeth without having to look at her.

One day by accident I caught a glimpse of this absolutely beautiful lady in her 50's taking up all the space in the mirror. She had the look of peace and serenity. I could hardly take my eyes off of her. She was beautiful even without a trace of make up. Her eyes crystal blue. Her smile like that of an angel. I saw a brightness all around her head. She reached out to me, touched me, and I have been with her ever since. People see her all day long. I haven't told anyone that she lives in the space of the mirror, it's our little secret.

I am forever grateful to be one with the lady in the mirror.

Learn more about this author, Barbara Dufrene.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.