(Unrelated note but I just got 100% in my high school end of term English literature exam 😭 I think this app is helping my skills, English was my weakest subject previously. Now top rank student of the year !)

(And here’s a poorly written mini story to celebrate, since I still have to go revise other subjects…)

Colours were swirling around the ceiling. Incoherent conversations and tunes were thrashing about my ears. The unmistakeable scent of alcohol lingered in the humid air.

I sat at the table, avoiding all eyes. Truthfully speaking, I did not want to attend this high school graduation party. The social hierarchy was forever a foreign concept to me throughout the high school years, and that specifically did not benefit me here.

While everyone spoke of old memories and gossip, I simply listened silently, a shadow in the background like always. I’m a loser; everyone will probably forget about me after a few months. Man, they’ve probably even forgotten about me at the table.

After a few minutes more of awkwardly analysing the patterns of the tablecloth in front of me, I excused myself from the table. Not that it would concern anyone.

Avoiding eye contact with my classmates present, I rushed off to the bathroom.

Bathrooms were a familiar location to me.

School bathrooms were always ideal to hide in, when everyone ate lunch and messed around at break. I had managed to convince myself that simply not being my seen by their judgemental eyes altogether was a better alternative to being seen, always alone.

It hurt a little less. Or perhaps that was just my escapism speaking.

I stood before the mirror, though I instantly regretted it. I went through the pain of learning how to apply makeup for today, and yet my face still looked appalling. The makeup smudged. I looked much worse than usual.

Sighing, I turned the taps on, scrubbing the pigment and chemicals off my skin. It stung. Was it supposed to sting? I didn’t know. And I forgot I was wearing contact lenses. The sharp burning in my eyes instantly reminded me of the fact.

My brain was already foggy from the heavy alcoholic odour of the pub, as well as the humid conditions. Blurring my vision was not particularly a favourable condition of the moment.

Frantically trying to reposition my contact lenses, I leaned forward, nearing the mirror. If I was gonna poke my eyes, I might as well poke them in the correct places to get the contacts back.

My elbows leaned against the mirror, or, at least, where the mirror should have been.

With an unanticipated tumble, I fell forwards, seemingly passing through the mirror.

Now, from my limited high school physics knowledge, I can now practically confirm that what I had just experienced, was in fact, not possible.

But at the time, my more irrational-thinking, hazy mind was just convinced that the alcoholic air was just getting to me.

I successfully fixed my contacts, and stood back from the sink. I brushed the hair out of my face. I’m sure I did. But the mirror didn’t.

I feel slightly ashamed that I had to pause for a good few seconds to process what was happening.

And I feel even further ashamed that I had to mentally ask myself, “Do mirrors glitch now?” Before concluding that they didn’t (after a good 5 seconds).

I blinked.

I waved my hands.

I jumped.

My reflection did not.

Stepping back, I felt a wave of uncertainty creep up. What was happening? Was I hallucinating?

But it felt so real. Oh, hang on, that’s exactly someone delusional might have said. That did not help my case.

Half-expecting something to creep up and grab me, I swirled around, though only met with the cracking bathroom walls. Admittedly, the pub was not in the most attractive state. It looked at least a century old, and I’m not exaggerating. And the apprent neglect from the business was quite clear. The cobwebs on the ceiling and walls looked like a whole neighbourhood of spiders. Man, maybe they’ve even formed a dynasty or kingdom. Even the floors had a share, maybe a continent of them. Like, since when did spiders have the comfort and liberty to create cobwebs on the floor?

These signs of infrequent visiting from the human population was perhaps a warning sign. It was eerie.

I looked back at the mirror, to check foolishly if it had updated my reflection.

It had.

But I was no longer there.

An empty void lay before me. A rational mind would have assumed the mirror had somehow disappeared and revealed a tunnel, but I, as mentioned previously, am not a rational thinker.

I could see motion, of the supernatural side of life. I felt like a story character. Was I being shown a fantasy world? Or was I in the fantasy?

I stepped closer. What do people say about such things again? Oh right, being presented with a magical portal isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence, let alone something to advise about.

Well, I suppose they would tell you to step away from the danger.

I never listened to the rules.

I’m a teenager, after all. Full of angst and frustration. That’s what we are, aren’t we? By textbook definition.

I took a step closer.

10 seconds to make a decision.

9 seconds to contemplate.

8 seconds left to reflect.

7…

Oh, who am I kidding?

Like I said, I don’t think rationally.

I ran towards the supernatural portal.

If this is some temporary escapism, I’ll take it. I’m up for an adventure.

Just, promise me you’ll return me back tomorrow, yeah?

… right?