It was still dark when my eyes drifted over to the clock on the wall. 4:30. Although I still had hours before work, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I wouldn’t be able to get any more sleep that night. Not after the… incident. I closed the bathroom door behind me, even though I don’t know why I bothered. I lived alone. Out of nowhere, I was struck by a wave of dizziness. Propping my elbows on the counter, I shoved my palms into my eyes and took a few stuttered breaths. Finally, I had been able to calm myself down. I looked up, leaning my chin on my now closed fists. That’s when I saw it. You wouldn’t believe me, no one does, but in that moment my reflection stood towering over me. The gray eyes glaring into my soul were not mine. I gasped and turned away muttering, “No, no this can’t be happening. Not again!” I felt my chest begin to close and I forced oxygen into my lungs. It took every bit of my strength and courage but I turned to face the mirror again. I found only my own pitiful self, shaking and gasping like an animal. One arm wrapped around my waist and my other covered my mouth. When did I become so weak? I closed my eyes and forced myself to trudge to the closet. I forced on the nearest clothes. The clock read 5:07 now, barely any time had passed. I took another deep breath and walked back into the bathroom. When the light flickered on, the same pitiful figure stared back at me. A memory suddenly came, unbidden. My sister gently brushing through my hair with her fingers. She would curl it so tightly that my mother accused her of trying to make me look like Shirley Temple. My heart ached. Maybe today would be the day to call them. After weeks of ignoring their frantic calls and messages, maybe I should send some word that I’m even alive. If that is what you can call my condition. Longing for some of that familiar comfort, I plugged in my curling iron and waited for it to heat up, tapping impatiently on the counter. After it had heated up, I looked in the mirror to see what I had to work with and gasped. She was there again. It was me, but she didn’t move when I did and those same fierce gray eyes held mine captive. This time, however, an arm rushed forward and grabbed my wrist. Mostly I felt frozen; I couldn’t even scream Finally, some instinct awoke inside of me once she tightened her grip. My free hand shot out in search of something to grab. My fingers wrapped around the wand of my curling iron and I swung it at the reflection’s arm. I could hear the flesh sizzling and I swear I could hear her screams as her face twisted in desperate agony. She let go of my wrist and I turned to run. Sometime during my flight outside, I had managed to grab my phone. I would not be able to live like this. I quickly pulled up my mother’s contact and dialed her. She picked up almost before I had time to fear that she wouldn’t. “Emma, honey is that you?” Her voice pleaded. “Yeah mom, it’s me.” “Oh sweetheart, please talk to me? Why haven’t you answered?” “Mom, there’s something you don’t know about what happened.” “Ok?” “A few weeks after that man took me and Ashley, he gave me a choice: I could run or I could stay with her. I ran because I thought I could go get help!” Now I see HIS eyes in my reflection. “Honey that isn’t your fault!” “I left her mom! She was only there because of me and I abandoned her and now she is out there alone with some lunatic!” “You’re right,” mother’s voice hardened, “she is still out there. You are the only person in the world who can help her right now. So the only question now is, can you face your demons to save your friend or are they too scary for you?” I took a deep breath and looked at the now hazel eyes in my reflection on a nearby window. “I’m coming Ash.” I whispered into the night.