Shattered

Epilogue

I lie on the floor in my own blood. The moment seemed to have flown by. I was so deep in my own mind, I hadn’t even known what happened. I feel cold. Pain covers my body as the crimson pool beneath me widens. Emma and I stare at one another through the barrier holding me hostage as we gasp for air. I can hear slow heavy footsteps leaving as the heavy metal door squeaks open and slams shut.

Shortly afterward, the door squeaks back open again and running footsteps rush towards me. “Brooke!” I hear Connor’s voice call out me before he drops down to his knees next to me. He reaches down to touch me but his hands go right through me as if I’m simply an apparition. Emma’s eyes suddenly widen in shock at something. Can she see him? “Brooke!” I wanted to turn to him but I couldn’t. My eyes start to grow heavy and I know this is it. I didn’t even get to tell Connor what I needed to tell him.

He continues to try to pick me up but he continually goes through me. I wanted to tell him to stop but my body refuses to move and I start to feel more lightheaded. I see him stand up from the corner of my eye and walk away. I wondered what he was doing as I hear him rustle around in a rush. Next thing I know, I see him charging towards the mirrors with a chair in his hands. I watch him as he smashes the mirrors before me. The pieces shatter to the floor and break apart more, like raindrops. They shower the floor in their shiny tears of chains holding me in place. Emma and I continue to stare at each other as he does so. I knew it was hopeless though. We already tried that. We shattered the mirrors but they were fixed without any evidence of it ever being broken and it did nothing. There’s no way it’ll work. I wanted to yell at him that it won’t work. To stop.

That’s when I feel it. Something deep within me suddenly shatters, just like the mirror pieces. It was both painful and peaceful. I gasp in surprise and glance around freely. Connor turns around to face me. I stare at him as he glances between me and Emma. He realizes that while Emma stares into the broken mirror pieces on the verge of death, I’m staring at him. He uses the chair to smash the last chunk of the mirror Emma and I stared at each other through. I wanted to cry and laugh and scream all at the same time. Everything I was feeling was overwhelming. I could feel the shattering pain of relief. The pain of freedom at last. Connor drops the chair and drops down beside me. He reaches down and he can finally lift me up. He looks at me and starts to cry. He hugs me as his body shakes. “I called for help. They’re coming. Please hang on. Hang on for me. Hang on for your family.” He pauses, sniffling by my ear before he whispers to me again. “Live for Willow.”

I suddenly hear sirens outside approach and wheels screech to a sudden stop. I feel my breaths start to slow as my body grows distant and cold. I feel myself slowly drift off as I continue to bleed out. I whisper to him what I wanted to tell him before. His breathing suddenly stops for a second before he trembles again. Even worse than before. I couldn’t hang on anymore. My body refused to let me live any longer than I’m supposed to. I go limp and my vision goes black. The last thing I let linger on my mind before my body gave out was Willow’s smile. The brightness of her brought a smile to my lips and the smile stayed as I blacked out.

***

After everything, Connor kept his promise and did what was asked of him. He figured out what broke the curse. The mirror had to be shattered. Of course, when it was tried before, it didn’t work because no one was being controlled at the moment. The mirror must be shattered when someone else is being controlled. The curse or bond must be in action to be broken. A simple solution that was difficult to do. Connor sent a letter to a journalist telling them about his discovery and they later called him that night when they could. They didn’t believe him at first but he showed them by shattering their mirror, breaking their bond to the Reflected world. They broke down in tears afterward, feeling the same painful relief. It was enough for them to write the story in great detail and post it everywhere. They showed their coworkers the process and everyone broke down into tears as well, sharing the exact same feeling they felt at that moment. The news spread like a wildfire and everyone started to help each other break their bonds. The bonds aren’t fully gone, of course. The bond is still in effect when a child is born but a mirror is shattered when the bond is in effect.

When Connor went back to see Willow, the first thing he did in the morning was smash a mirror. As soon as he saw Willow being controlled in the bathroom, he grabbed the closest thing and shattered it. Willow broke down into tears just as her mother had. She felt the same shattering, painfully peaceful feeling. Connor held her as long as he could before he disappeared shortly afterward, leaving Willow alone.

Connor, of course, told Willow’s grandparents what he found and what had happened and that Willow was alone at home. When they could, they drove to the apartment and picked her up. They all cried together as a whirl of emotions surrounded them. Afterward, they tried to explain to Willow what Connor had told them about her mom. They comforted Willow as she sobbed from hearing what had happened to her mom, me. I wish I could’ve comforted her myself and told a million more times how much I love her. To tell her how much she means to me and how much she helped change me as a person.

“Mommy!” Well, luckily, I have more time to tell her. My head snaps to the door as Willow charges inside the room and greets me. “Hi, baby!” I reach my arms out to her and hug her when she jumps up onto the hospital bed. “I missed you!” I laugh as tears start to spring into my eyes. “Me too! I missed you so much!” I hug her tight but wince when I use too much of my strength to hug her. Connor grabs her from behind and gently sets her down beside the bed. “Remember to be careful," he warns her before turning to me. "Are you okay?” I slowly nod, laying back again. “Considering I’ve been stabbed multiple times and almost died, I think I’m quite dandy actually.” He looks at me with no sign of amusement on his face. “I’m kidding.”

“That’s a bad joke.”

“It’ll be good after a while. Just watch.” He shakes his head, crossing his arms at me. I put my joking to the side and talk to him with seriousness. “How’s the news going? Is it working for everyone?” He nods, uncrossing his arms and sitting on the edge of the bed. Willow crawls up and sits next to me as well, listening in to our conversation. “Yeah, people are even posting videos about it online and sharing their experience. It's crazy and amazing.” He pulls out his phone and shows me a few. Some are videotaping their friends as they're being controlled. They're brushing their teeth or putting on makeup or doing a simple daily routine before another friend or family member uses something to break the mirror being used. You hear the shattering sounds of twinkling glass hitting the floor or desks. Next thing you know, the newly freed person falls to the floor in tears. The friends and family cheer for them and clap. They hug them and comfort them.

Some show the same person explaining or being interviewed on what they felt. "It was like something shattered. It like hurt but in a beautiful way. It was peaceful too. I don't know. It's hard to explain."
“

I felt that too!” They all agree on the feeling, saying they felt the exact same thing and they all cheer again. Some even interview one another, sharing who helped break whose bond. I smile at the news spreading and helping to free this world of this bond. “We did it,” Connor says. I turn to him and smile. “We did it.” He reaches down and gently hugs me and Willow does the same. “We’re free,” I whisper. He nods. “I wish Harmony could’ve seen this day.” I nod in agreement, imagining her bright smile. I can almost hear her voice telling me I did a good job or joking about my near-death experience. I’ll never forget her. I hope she’s doing what she loves. I hope she’s happy and free in her own way.
“Mommy?” I pull back and turn to Willow. “Yes, honey?” She slightly frowns after looking at me for a bit. ”You've been stuck here for a long time. When will you come home?" Her sad eyes remind me of a sad puppy and I can't stop the giggle from the erupting. "Soon. I'll be home soon. I have to get better first."
"Yeah, and to get better, you have to rest." I turn to Connor and I can see his serious expression. It feels as if he's silently lecturing me. I roll my eyes and lay back again. "I'm resting. See? All I do all day is rest. I'm getting better." He shakes his head with a smile. "Since we're free now," Willow also adds. We turn to her when she freezes a bit in thought. "Is someone else trapped in our reflections?" Connor and I both freeze, slowly turning to one another. We never even thought of that. How is it possible we never thought of that? Both of our gazes turn towards the mirror in the room and I can feel my heart drop. I pray that it isn't true but can't stop the question from popping into my mind. Did we just pass our own cursed lives onto another world to live through?