28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUSjAR5tZb
"Break it," your sister says. "Just break it."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq2tbelouo
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsexLzgprjD
She has picked up the soap dish. She is holding it like a stone.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDEqAjJr1w
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkCSxU2xfG
"No." The person with your face catches her wrist. "Don't."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEIOeb4S04
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK4bGp1XBZ
"Why not?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3QY7sLq8X
The person outside does not answer at first. Those eyes stay on yours. The hand around your sister's wrist tightens.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdHPEr2wYO
You feel your own fingers close around nothing.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh8GonHJVm
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL7zGeQPPF
"Because sometimes," it says quietly, "I'm not sure which one of us is on the right side."28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW6sq64bjb
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfMz2Yw773
Your sister looks at it.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsChVWNelD
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytw567vrAP
Then she looks at you.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGuApr88H3
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAIsaR7Cgv
For a moment, her face goes very still. As though she is trying to decide which face is her sibling's.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Kr2PG8yN
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PJdQkIWS2
You lift your hand.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25VoEK9D4r
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccfyzN9APj
Her eyes follow it. She takes half a step towards you.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlh5sQRSgt
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRa09I8JDq
Then the person beside her says her name, in the voice she has known all her life.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefhKfLeWuK
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9twiOMp2n
She stops.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9igrLms4vw
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcb2Re3wsM
“Can you hear me?” she whispers to the glass.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPPPPRPGmI
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WLVHRtRac
You nod. Too quickly. You press your mouth against the surface, trying to make a sound she can feel.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBHFVrkTrp
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeyuYi6Hku
She begins to cry.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVymb2a6XD
“I don't know what to do,” she says.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiuxS3Rx3F
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fr5zkzifC
She puts the soap dish down.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXfd3dlsRh
Your sister picks up the sheet. She cannot find the corner at first; her hands keep folding the same edge.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaadfZ7Tw3
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP4egTQHfQ
The person outside takes it from her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDi50SpH19
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVufhNMXkfq
She watches your face until the last strip of light disappears.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7G0MkIPHv
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0CWGTJ9Sl
They secure the sheet with twice as much tape, then leave.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKqECKwQTy
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKdjF1rBCi
In the dark, you have time to think.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiF3EvysJK
You have watched an entire life.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGtvOe0hkg
Every morning. Every night. Every tired face in every dark window.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1BQL6Un9l
You saw your mother's birthday through the glass of a cabinet.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAgtax3wJk
You watched your sister grow up in the back of a hundred spoons.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjCuWRMBDE
You remember your sister asking whether you could hear her.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv391DdbWt
You nod again in the dark.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRF4hAvCEF
It is your life too.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc9P1LeZNs
It does not seem fair that only one of you gets to stand in it.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWd9tCEA3Y
At first, you imagine asking for small things.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVVs0fA8rD
Leave the sheet off. Bring your sister back. Let her speak to you without someone else's hand pulling her away.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0BycBh4e0
Then you remember the drawer that stayed shut outside while you held the marker inside.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclEgc1ghpK
Your fingers close.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmg3bGfDrC
Nothing closes them for you.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOY9tSG9wn
You had begun moving early before anyone covered the mirror.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rhyJ1oI57
Alone, with no face to follow, you can keep moving. You practise opening your hand and leaving it open.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0dwZYoj09
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9t2sPBLgE
They always come back to check.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19ChsAJkiZ
It takes three weeks. Then, one evening, the tape comes off, and the sheet comes down, and the person with your face stands in front of you, pale and ready to run.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNDqLzLnGJ
You do nothing wrong.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQhZcVRIP5
You copy it perfectly. Every blink. Every breath.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGYasYYYwR
You watch its shoulders before its hand moves, and you move with it, not one moment early.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1Vgxt9wJ9
It watches you for a long time.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9QQIEPtAB
Then it lets out a breath, and its shoulders drop.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOqSCoqbDg
After that, it leaves the sheet off.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakkzEort4r
You are perfect for a month.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHiXCXWBnj
The person outside begins to look rested.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5zFOvQi95
Sometimes a laugh comes through an open phone call.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluJnfPbwDk
Sometimes your sister's voice answers, and you hear dishes being set out for Sunday lunch.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDuPYvP3rp
You watch the face opposite yours soften at the sound.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwKCY2AFh8
The person outside bends to rinse without keeping those eyes on you.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA9KDlavCV
Turns away to reach a towel. Only for a second.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZszxDN0Lhr
You wait.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWm1jM6rwl
You could stay like this. There would be light most mornings.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcktjcMuHt
There would be glimpses of your sister. No one would have to be frightened.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQD6bdRzyC
Then the towel comes down, and you find yourself copying the movement before you have chosen to.
You remember her hand reaching for the person beside her. How close it came to the glass.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mIzvMS0yk
You want that hand to reach you.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k03kxptV2
You tell yourself you will only try one movement.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n7m8VmDMh
Enough to make the person outside understand that you are still here.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYrYeANpjd
You do not let yourself think about what happens if the movement works.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruXQWzdM9R
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp6lryNnDr
One evening, the person outside comes home late.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX01vd4Qdjz
The familiar hand reaches around the doorframe and turns the light on before that person steps inside.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXwQi6PQxZ
The light flickers three times. You both count without meaning to.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP25cn9PY6
The person at the sink brushes their teeth.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXqNfD6Owb
White foam gathers at the corner of that mouth. You feel it at yours.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcumzoNUpsr
Inside the glass, you wipe your mouth first.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09vZ4o1E2u
Just a moment first. Just a little.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAqLLEBCYP
The person outside freezes.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgt4mQ57c0
Those eyes meet yours.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJpsnpNp2T
You hold that gaze. You do not smile.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pShVSBDKN
Slowly, you lift your thumb to your mouth again.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5ozFBhSlX
Outside the glass, the other hand jerks. Stops.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQQZK1M9Pv
You could lower yours now.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSCT8KerxS
Instead, you keep it raised.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR3QUnBfrk
The person at the sink grips the counter with the other hand, fighting the movement. You feel the strain in your own shoulder.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrhgTkkPAX
Then the thumb reaches the mouth.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LCbEIknS7
You have made someone move.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBAfa8xjQ2
For a moment, you are ashamed enough to look away.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnBsNPlTrv
You do not lower your hand.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7jQTMnLJL
After that night, the person outside never enters a dark bathroom.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxfi3vGHBo
The light comes on first. Those eyes stay on you through the brushing and rinsing, until you can feel the familiar ache in your neck.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZspZjExcmo
That person never turns away from you.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYp8UAj4Td
You know this habit very well. You thought it was yours.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhOAKkUXOX
Perhaps it was. Perhaps it has always belonged to whoever is on the other side.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5jHCcQ0CB
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUrx9pN91w
Tonight, the person outside stands in front of you, and stares.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkngh33vPkz
You stare back.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bfU974LLS
Two faces. One mirror. And you are no longer sure which of you is standing in front of it.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVvxZy510
You raise your hand.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws8439Wt77
Outside the glass, the other hand stays down. You can see the effort it takes. The strain in that shoulder. The fear in those eyes.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZiNEzheZT
Then the hand rises anyway.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYiXUEEFm9
A little late.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr3ddygNzx
So when you brush your teeth tonight, watch carefully.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpr4ve80JQ
And if one of you is late —
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeMCfVH1Fw
are you sure it is the other one？
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPocqVeKWr
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fZ920Yi8m
Content Note: Warning! Repeated eyes and unsettling imagery.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlUpKk0GB0
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ6W5RnI07
ILLUSTRATION III — The One Who Stayed Behind28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa5QxkXPOF
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O11qRbbK7
It no longer wears your face.
Only the longing remains.
And still, it reaches for warmth, for light, for the touch on the other side.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYGOdNWuyt
──── ⸸ ❦ ⸸ ────
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp3Rg5hvG9
The End of Story 4
and then Add to home screen.