The lights had flashed through her head from the beginning of the night, blurring every second together into a mesh of booze and bare skin on her own. She had been told, years ago, that liquor would only worsen her misfortune.

She had not believed that for a long time. Her tools to control herself were limited, when she inspected them closely. Somehow a good shot of whiskey could do the job better than any herb she had ever been supplied.

That was true until she stumbled into the bathroom after she finished her second bottle of the night.

She had bent on her knees, her stomach churning in rampant waves until she could finally rid herself of the ocean deep in her stomach. For a few long moments she could not manage to do anything but lean against the seat of the toilet, catching herself the few times the waves reared their heads.

It was not until she stood up, not until the moment she groaned as a knock on the door came, that anything had been out of the ordinary.

“Hey, honey, you need any help in there?” A kind voice came, one she was sure was an upperclassman. “There’s water out here, if you’d like it.”

“Uh-um- One minute.” She called back, her head spinning as she raised her voice. “One minute.”

Carefully stumbling to her feet, she used the stained granite countertop as a support. She did not notice anything wrong with her reflection until she went to check her hair.

Her fingers moved through the half-crumpled form she had sprayed in at the beginning of the night, and then altogether stopped. A breath caught in her chest. That could not be right.

Next, she adjusted her belt. Nothing. Even as she pulled off her jacket, there was no response.

No, no, this had to be her mind. Cold water had to do something for her.

Nothing. Nothing, still. What the hell was happening to her?

“Hey there.” She was sure it was the upperclassman outside. It had to be. Even as her reflection waved to her playfully, she forced herself to believe it. “You know, I didn’t think you would be this observant. Jesus, five years and you only realize I’m here on your one night out? That’s depressing.”

“W-what?”

“What? You look like a goldfish, hon, you really gotta lift that jaw up.” Her reflection primped back at her for a moment, until finally: “I think I definitely wear it better. Especially with all of- that.”

“What the hell did I- someone put something in the punch.” She rubbed her forehead. “Maybe-maybe I can just sleep it off. Yeah. Yeah, that works.”

“You think it’s gonna be that easy?” She rolled her eyes playfully. “Don’t you remember what happened back in high school?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ooh, I should’ve probably got you caught up on that, shouldn’t I?” She blinked, and suddenly her reaction seemed perfectly, serenely calm. “You’ve tried that already. Damn, I don’t remember what you haven’t. You’re stuck with me.”

“God, am I going crazy?”

“Honey?” The voice outside the door called again, and her reflection winked at her.

“You wanna tell that sweet girl out there that? I’m sure Heather can’t possibly judge you for talking to yourself in a mirror.”

“Shut up!”

“Watch it, hon. You’re only making it worse for yourself.” There was another knock, and another look of satisfaction spread across her face. “You gonna get that?”