Through the Mirror on the Wall

Chapter One: Through Sleepy Eyes

Daniel stared at the mirror with half open eyes full of sleep. He watched himself as he went through his nightly routine. He saw himself dancing around the small bathroom, trying to put on his pajamas. He saw himself putting a hole in yet another white t-shirt, groaning, and then putting another on. Lastly, he saw himself picking up the small blue plastic toothbrush he's used for about two years now, putting a pea-sized dot of toothpaste onto it, right before putting it into his mouth and moving it around slowly, brushing his teeth. He saw the drool from his mouth drip onto the brush handle, making it slippery. He saw the brush fall out of his hands, and he saw himself bend over to pick it back up. But when he stood back up, he dropped it again. Staring back at him, unchanged, was his reflection. A deafening screech tore through the silence, making Daniel jump back a foot. Then, just as quickly as it had happened, it stopped. His mirror went back to normal, copying all of his movements. He rubbed his eyes and blinked. I must be even more spent than I thought, he said to himself. Just to be sure, he waved his arms in front of his face. The mirror did the same. Yep. He was entirely crazy. Note to self: get checked for mental illness. He shook his head, dismissing what had happened as nothing more but his reflection seen through sleepy eyes. He walked out of the bathroom, turning out the light as he left, and climbed into bed. He closed his eyes and drifted into a black dreamless sleep.