2770. On reflection © Bruce Goodman 30 June 2023

Ruth wouldn’t be seen dead without her make-up on. Every morning for over twenty years she would sit at her bedroom dressing table and make up her face. She wasn’t a great mathematician – she thought in round numbers – but 20 years of looking in that mirror daily meant she had looked at herself at least over seven thousand times. This morning was a little different. She sat in front of the mirror, look up into the mirror and the reflection wasn’t her. Looking back was a grey-green skinned thin figure with huge eyes. It looked like a space alien. Ruth was terrified. She couldn’t move. The creature stared at her. It was hypnotic. Then the creature spoke. “Put on your makeup.” Ruth began applying makeup. With everything she applied – foundation, mascara, lipstick, and so on - an identical makeup appeared on the alien’s face. When Ruth had finished a split image of herself reflected back. Ruth knew it looked like her, but it wasn’t her. It was someone else. It was then that Ruth felt a sharp pain in her chest. She slumped to the floor. Her death was never reported. Of course it wasn’t. “Ruth” turned up to work as usual. Not even her close relatives knew it wasn’t her. Even when they went on vacation and relaxed around the swimming pool, Ruth still wore her makeup. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story