I think I just met the happiest person in the world, you wouldn’t expect it by his appearance, but looking into his eyes felt like a beam of sunshine on a cool day. I was using the library to print out some notes for my classes when he asked if the computer next to me was open, there were plenty of other ones available but I didn’t mind the company.
“So what class is that for?” His hair was longer and dark and covered his face in a way that could have made him look scary.
“Oh just a few things from my general studies” He brushed his hair back and laughed, that’s when I saw the brightness in him
“Well my name is Will if you ever need help other than your notes I hold a study session every Thursday or whenever anyone needs it.” I thanked him and was added to a group chat, he introduced me and added a cute rabbit sticker smiling. A few other members chimed in joking about Will gathering more and more members. An impromptu meeting was brought up a day early for just what I needed to work on. It was going to be a small study session with only four of us meeting in Wills dorm, including Will and his roommate. I decided on going, hoping on the chance to make new friends and finally understand physics. We studied for a few hours until Wills roommate and other friend left to grab dinner and wind down.
“So do you normally scope people out in the library to add numbers to your study group?” He had clips pulling back his hair so it didn’t fall in front of his face, when he was speaking to the group almost a constant smile was on his face.
“Only a few, I have a way of knowing if I’ll like someone early on, so that’s who I approach” He said this as though he had magic powers of seeing into the true nature of everyone.
“Well that’s good, you don’t want any slackers taking advantage of you” I spoke lightheartedly but this seemed to have struck a chord with Will.
“Don’t worry about me, as long as we all pass that’s all that matters.”
By this point we stopped reviewing flash cards, after hours of studying we hit a plateau.
“Hey Will, when you approached me yesterday I didn’t expect you to be so outgoing.”
“I’ve been told before my resting face is kinda scary but I guess that changes when I open my mouth.” We laughed and talked more about our hobbies and interests. His optimism was magnetic, something I’ve never truly experienced until now. I wondered how someone could appear so easygoing with the stress of school and a part-time job, but somehow his go with the flow attitude got him by.
I continued going to the study session for weeks, even meeting up with Will for coffee between classes. I never heard him speak bad about anything or even complain, even if he pulled an all nighter he wouldn’t even utter anything about being tired. It was impressive, and when I press to know why he tells me how negativity does nothing good for the people around you, or yourself so there is no use. He was right I spent so much time thinking about how happy he was, or he seemed. In a way I felt bad, that he cared too much about other people and not enough for himself, but even when I told him this he didn’t seem to care much, just brushing it off as the way it is.
Our friendship continued and he is one of the only reasons I passed Physics. He even took my advice and stopped handing out detailed notes like Halloween candy. Our study group evolved into a hang out group, I spent more time at Wills dorm than I did my own. One day I asked, “how are you so happy all the time?”
“Maybe you just think that because I’m happy around you” he laughed.
We didn’t say anything after that, I just looked deeper into his eyes that glinted even more brighter than before.
I arrived home a little earlier than usual, just enough time for me to breathe before Sam comes home. Five minutes is all I needed to myself before having to do anything else, but it seemed to have gotten the better of me. I awoke to a sudden slam of the back door and pounding footsteps heading my way. “Dad! D-aaa-d” “I’m in here” “Look what I found” “Is that a mirror? Where did you get that at?” “It was a special present just for me!”
It didn’t concern me too much, just kid stuff, a plastic compact was the least of my worries. While I was prepping dinner and Sam was doing homework at the kitchen table I could not help but notice her staring at herself in the mirror. “The faster you get your homework done, the quicker you can play. So put down the toys okay?” I was met with mild frustration and a piercing glare before I took ahold of the mirror myself. To make light of the situation and prevent myself from being seen as the devil himself I playfully opened the mirror to pamper up. I was met by a laugh from Sam, but when I looked closer behind my reflection seemed to warp and change, almost like it was below a creek. I didn’t want to show my fright in the moment but something is wrong with this and I needed to find out more. After Sam was asleep I opened the mirror again, my reflection was there but almost delayed. As if it was not actually me in the mirror but another who was replicating my movements, something false pretending to be me. I don’t remember how long I looked into the warped perception of myself but all I know now is my skin is no longer my own. I couldn’t handle it anymore, I smashed it against the ground, shattering and breaking. It felt like it was over, the dread left my body, so I cleaned up the mess and went to bed. When I awoke my own reflection did not deceive me, my skin was swimming around as if a mask of myself was layed on top of my face. A droop in the eye and mouth, the edge of someone’s jaw lifting. It was quick and didn’t last for long but it started happening to everyone over the next few days. At first strangers out of the corner of my eye, then co-workers, then Sam. I had to know the truth, it was eating me alive. I stood over the bathroom sink one night, staring at myself until it happened. At first I tried to grab it, but to no avail it was like the false me was taunting me. A parasite infected me, and is now tormenting me, it had to be removed. I grabbed a pair of tweezers and caught the seam of it, pulling it off fast. It appeared to be a copy of my face on some sort of mask with thousands of tiny legs on it. I dropped everything and stood back as I watched it separate into tiny insects and crawl down the drain. My face was my own again, and so was everyone else’s, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if I let it stay a little longer.
