Mirror

Ethan

It rained. The ground became a mixture of mud and sodden grass. Water penetrated every imaginable space that wasn't fully protected and such areas were rare even in our new house. Kya and I set up buckets to catch water that dripped from the ceiling and skylights. Mom and Dad were frustrated with the expense of repairing the property especially since we planned to welcome Shuijiao and Adren in only a few days time.

We worked hard and every night I feared sleep. It was a fear strong enough to keep me wide awake even at the darkest hours of the night. With time I knew I must be recovering or at least the connection between my two bodies was weakening because the dangerous red lines receded and the pain faded. I was sick less often and less violently. I was waiting around for the thought of Mirror to vanish, but it seemed that it wasn't going to be that easy. I was also sitting around waiting for the mail like some distant lover waiting to hear from her beloved. I found myself running out to the mailbox the moment the mailman passed by and every time before I searched the piled my heart rate would skyrocket. The shear mystery of a letter from someone forgotten was novel-worthy.

"Mail for you," Kya called from the bottom of the stairs. It so happened to be the first day since we moved that I hadn't been the one to check the mail.

"Oh really? Who from?" I asked as I emptied the rest of a water bucket into the upstairs bathroom sink.

"It says it's from Ethan."

"Naturally," I muttered. "Watch the darn pot and it won't boil for years, but the moment you leave it bubbles right over the top." I shrugged. "Really?"

"No, I was just kidding," Kya said loudly. She gave me a mocking look from the bottom of the stairs. I smiled. There was something that felt oddly familiar about her reply.

"What's wrong?" Kya asked. "You look like you're about to cry."

"I just feel really brokenhearted. I think I forgot something I dreamed about," I replied as I clenched and relaxed my fists trying to forget, knowing I'd already forgotten, yet still feeling like something was missing.

"I get that too. Hey, why's Ethan sending you mail after such a long time anyway? It's been like a year, hasn't it?"

"I guess so. I wrote him a letter."

Kya's upper lip curled. "Are you really trying to make amends with him?"

I was at a loss so I tried to just follow Kya's cues. "Well, there's no point in letting everything end on a bad note."

"Well whatever, suit yourself. Just don't meet him in person and don't bring him here. Man, I swear if it looks like you are going to go see him you won't get a bit of privacy for weeks. You don't know what's good for you."

I so wanted to ask about Ethan but I couldn't think of a better way to start digging my own grave. "Yeah yeah, just let me see the letter."

"Sure, but if I see it again it burns. If you won't watch out for yourself, your sister will have to protect you instead." Kya smiled wryly and I returned an equally bitter smile though her animosity was aimed at Ethan and mine at my fickle memory.

I walked up the stairs slowly trying not to look too excited by the letter. When I reached my new room I sat on my bed across from Kya's and tore open the envelope. There was a small piece of paper. It looked as if the letter had been written on a sticky note. Its short message read: Lit, I'm so happy to hear from you after so long and I'd like to speak with you in person. Can we meet somewhere in the city? If you can make it I'll be waiting near the tallest building, Friday, at midnight. It's called "The Falls."