Mirrors

Shivering Pines

Waking up in that cold room that smelled of pine was like splashing your face with icy water. it took my breathe away and left me heaving for that bitter cold pine scented air. I looked around that barren and cold room. it was about the same as when I drifted off; the wood floors still looked splintered, the bed still creaked when you moved, and the hippos on that sad blue blanket still stared up at me on their wobbly red tricycles. I sighed and got up from the old bed. my metal leg clunking to the floor as they always did when I woke up. I did a quick scan of the time in my head and realized it was already 10:30. I was pretty sure the others didn't sleep that late. Well, it turned out I was wrong. when I stomped down the stairs with my beautiful metal leg, the bar was empty and I heard distant snores above me. the bar still faintly smelled of cheap beer. what do these people do every day? I thought. the happiness and warmth that was so present last night had flickered away with the absence of people. Except for one. my brain scanned the bar for warmth that signified a human body. there was indeed a thin figure behind the bar counter. it looked like it was crouched down, leaning his or her back against the bar. I took a step forward. the figure twitched. "Umm, who's there?" I inquired awkwardly. I turned my heat sensor off and walked towards the somewhat crumpled figure behind the bar. before I reached the counter, a slender cat like figure popped up above the grimy counter of the old bar. Dawn's short blonde hair was mussed and her energetic eyes looked tired. "Oh it's just you." she mumbled groggily, rubbing her large eyes vigorously. As she did so, her metal shoulders glinted in the dim lighting. "Umm err yeah it's just me," I said, "where is everybody?" "Oh yeah, probably dealing with their major hangovers somewhere as usual." Dawn laughed softly. I managed a slight grin. the slender girl leaned over and put her elbows on the dirty counter and yawned. "W-why were you sleeping under the counter?" I said, wavering. I hoped she didn't realize how afraid of other people I was. Dawn laughed. "it's a long story, but let's just say it included a broken bed and a really good book about the moon." I looked incredulously at her and she laughed again. I didn't know how a dirty bar in the middle of nowhere full of mysterious people appealed to me, but it certainly did.