Forever

Free?

As soon as I step out of the room I slid down against the wall. I sit there for what was probably ten minutes, but felt like hours. I didn't seem to notice time in the same way as before.

I couldn't stop crying. How could I do this? I'm such a terrible person. I feel the wall against my back, and I sit with my head in between my knees. It feels just like the mirror, and for those few blissful moments I can pretend I never betrayed Izzy. But then I open my eyes once more only to see cold hard reality staring me straight in the face.

But I also thought of one other thing. And I kept turning it over and over in my mind trying to make sense of it. The words... They had to be true to work. When I said I love you to Izzy, I couldn't get out of the mirror. But when I said I love you to Moira, she could get out. And I know for sure that she said it too.

Did the rules change for me? Am I imagining stuff? Could it be like Izzy said, and are words just needed to be said at the exact same time?

I didn't know. Did Moira love me? Did I still love her?

I tell my self that's a stupid question. After all, she left me in the mirror and forced me to put Izzy in there.

But did she force me to? That was my own choice. It was my own free will. I'm just as bad as Moira.

And then I remember the whole reason that I got out of the mirror. To see if Moira was the girl outside that Izzy was talking about.

I get up off the floor, still trying to get used to my old body. And then I realize something. My hair is starting to get shorter, and I'm starting to get taller. Is it... wearing off? Does it even do that? I begin to walk outside, staring at my hands like I'm morphing into a hideous animal.

Then I remember Moira. I know it's impossible for her to be outside. I mean after all why would she even want to see me? I give up any possibility that she's anywhere near me and continue to stare at my hands. I'm now fully outside now, and it feels amazing to feel wind and sunshine again. I rake my hands through my hair. Yup, it's definitely shorter.

"It wears off." A girls voice says from the side of the house. I can't see her because she's still behind the wall. Could it be...? Is it even possible that...? No. I decide. There's absolutely no way at all. Is there?

And then she steps into view. It IS her. It's Moira. I feel such a mix of emotions all at once. My heart starts doing somersaults and backflips while at the same time it boils over with rage. I don't even know what to do or how to act. Am I in love with her, or do I hate her?

I respond by taking a step toward her. We are so close we're almost touching now.

"Why?" I practically choke on the word. "Why did you do that to me?"

"Why?!" She practically yells. "No here's a why for you. WHY did YOU betray Izzy?! YOU trapped her in that mirror, not me Nolan. You did the exact same thing that I did. And guess what? One day Izzy will do the exact same thing to someone else."

I can't talk. I can barely see through all the tears that are in my eyes. I don't even know what to do next.

"But how did YOU get in? For real this time. Not the fake story you gave me last time." I manage to whisper that question, but it takes so much effort.

"Another boy trapped me in there." Moira says looking away. "He deceived me in the same way I did to you. And then he left... Forever. I never saw him again. That's why I'm still here. I'm still here for YOU Nolan. I'm not abandoning you like he did to me.

I don't know what to say. I should feel absolutely thrilled that she cares about me so much. And I guess I kind of do. I can almost feel myself blushing and my ears getting red. "Thank you." I whisper.

And then I glance back at the house. "But I can't stay. I can't leave Izzy in there. I can't let her go through what I went through." I turn to walk back into the house.

"Wait, Nolan!" Izzy grabs my arm. "Just stay out here. Even if it's just for one day. I've waited for you for so long, and I just need to spend time with you. Even if it's not forever."

I feel myself blushing all the way down to my toes and I really hope she can't notice. "Fine." I say. "But only one day and then I go back for her."

Izzy laces her hand through mine. "Just one day." She repeats. "Let's take a little walk. There's this coffee shop down the street that really good." "Do you even have any money?" I ask skeptically. She holds up a fat wallet and gives me one of those 'don't underestimate me' looks. It sends chills down my spine, but it's a good feeling. We start towards the coffee shop.