Every time a person came and went, they always saw the beauty in me.
However, there was just this one boy who, every time, would only see his flaws reflected in me.
He would look at me with horror or disgust.

My non-existent heart mourned for both him and myself.
He always left with a sad look on his face, and I tried everything I could to show him the beauty within me—that he was beautiful too.
One day, he was walking around the empty place, and when he looked at me again, I felt a wave of emotions rush through me.
I hoped, just this once, he wouldn’t leave with that same sorrowful expression.

Then suddenly, he picked me up and threw me to the ground.
Shards flew everywhere, and I felt... broken.
He stomped on me—
And left me there.

**_

Left_** me there...

Left **_me _**there...

Left me **_there_**…

He left me here…
In this old place that no one came to anymore.
No one except him.
But that couldn’t be right, could it?
He couldn’t just leave me here and break me… right?

But then again,
Who would want me?
Why would he want me if all he ever saw were his own flaws?
I hoped—some sick, aching hope—that he would come back.
But he never did.

**_

Five Years Later_**…

I sat there…
Struggling between emotions, unsure if I should even have any.
Not a moment passed in those empty hallways that I didn’t think of the boy with the haunted look in his eyes.
I don’t know how long I’ve been lying here, broken, but one thing I know for sure:

He’s not coming back.
And I feel disgusted with myself,
Wishing I could’ve hidden people’s flaws instead of reflecting them so clearly.
But that’s just the way I am.

Then, suddenly, I heard two unfamiliar voices and the sound of a door creaking open.
I wondered—Who could that be?
No one had been here for a very long time, let alone rented the place.

"Jason, guys! We finally have a shop of our own now! C’mon, you should be excited!"
A female voice echoed cheerfully.

Ah… there were more than two of them.
I heard bickering and more chatter until the group revealed themselves.
Two girls and three boys.

One girl had green eyes and brown hair.
The other had brown eyes, brown hair, and freckles—both sweet and beautiful.
One of the boys resembled the freckled girl; he was likely her brother.
Another boy had black hair with highlights and dark eyes.
And the last had striking gray eyes and hazelnut hair.

"It’s a beautiful place, but it sure could use some tidying up," the green-eyed girl said.
Then she spotted me.
She approached slowly, carefully picking me up.

“Wow… what a beautiful mirror.
It’s a shame you’re broken.
Oh! I look good today though!” she smiled, admiring her reflection through my cracks.
“When we move in, I’m going to fix you!”

She held me gently, as if I mattered.
The black-haired boy scoffed.
“Emily, you shouldn’t talk to the mirror like that. It doesn’t have feelings.”

She gasped, “Nuh-uh! Everything has feelings—whether it’s an animal, a person, or even a freaking mirror!”
She pouted, turning away.

I was stunned by how she treated me—how she stood up for me.
It made me feel… happy.

**_

Four Years Later_**…

I know all their names now.
And just like Emily said—she fixed me.
I’ve been living my best life since.

No one looks at me with disgust anymore.
They treat me like a person.
Every day they see beauty in me, and I am endlessly grateful.

Sure, a part of me is still hurt by the boy.
But now, I can move on—with them by my side.

One day, Emily came in like usual, smiling and waving.
She looked deeply into me—
And suddenly, she gasped.

She saw another girl.
But in a flash, the girl was gone.

Hmm… I wonder who that could have been,
I thought, giggling with delight.