“This is the prime of your life..” these words kept ringing through her head as she paced around the store looking for nothing in particular, rather clearing her head from what had just happened back home.

“This is the prime of your life..” her subconscious whispered again. She was an over thinker,deciphering every possibility of failure in every scenario. It was exhausting.

She had met him, through a mutual friend. He was smooth, charming, persistent and knew just what to say. He enamored her with gifts, way too lavish for her taste, but it was the thought that counted, right? They had been together 8 years. 8 birthdays, 8 New Years, 8 Christmas’, 8 winters.

“This is the prime of your life..” They were the perfect couple, the Instagram worthy, “omg you’re so lucky” hold the door, pull your chair out, perfect couple .The whole checklist. She was lucky.

But at home.. At home he’d hold doors shut to prevent her from sleeping in the same room as him, simply because she over salted the chicken, again.

He’d pull her by the hair and drag her to closet whenever she was wearing something too revealing. “You slut!”

He had never hit her tho.

“This is the prime of your life..” it wasn’t sadness she felt anymore, actually, she didn’t remember the last time she felt anything at all.

Abruptly, she snapped out of her head as she heard a familiar tune coming from the corner of the store. She walked towards it moving faster and faster.

Her grandfather used to hum this tune while fishing. They would go to the pond in the backyard of her parents house every Sunday morning before sunrise. He grandfather would wrap her in a blanket and carry her to the pond while he hummed and smiled, letting her sneak sips of his bitter coffee. It had been so long since she thought of him, her grandfather, it hurt too much to remember.

She came across a huge dusty mirror. It was at least half a foot taller than her. The trim was copper, beautifully crafted with what looked like to be water splashing and catfish jumping. Weird. Her grandfather called her Catfish.

As she stared at the beautiful copper design she came a cross a little post it note at the bottom. It stated, “ Handcrafted, if interested please ask for assistance.”

She was so dazed by the design that when she looked at the reflection she was startled. Her face seemed to be changing. She took a deep breath, blinked and stared again.

Her face was hers, but seemed to be morphing into a different version, an older version. She was captivated by this odd happening and stared with intent at the woman staring back at her.

Her hazel eyes, looked dull and lifeless. Her hair was short, weird, she hated short hair on her. It was frizzy unkept, abandoned.

Her youth was gone, she was filled with worry lines, and her lips were pursed drooping to a natural frown.

The more she stared the more details developed in her reflection. There was a small scar in her right eyebrow, and as she turned her head she jolted back in fear. Her neck was bruised a huge handprint around her neck. She held her gaze and breath at the reflection as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

The corner of her lip dripped with fresh blood and right below the scar on her brow a black and blue bruise held her eye shut.

Aware she was in a public place, but fixated on this reflection she whispered, “are you ok? What is this?”

The reflection locked eyes with her sending a chill down her spine that unlocked all her hidden emotions and tears began to drip down her face. Not a word was uttered but she knew deep in her gut, it was a matter of life or death, she needed to leave him.

She was jolted back to reality as a friendly employee tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Sweetie, are you ok?” She quickly wiped the tears off her face and tried to shake off the weight of what she had just experienced, but simply couldn’t. Uncontrollably she threw herself at employee who just embraced her back and sobbed. She sobbed for what felt like forever. 8 years of pain, hurt and being belittled, unloaded on a total stranger.

When she managed to catch her breath, the employee brought her a glass of water and some tissues. She’s not sure if it was the crooked smile of the woman who was way too old to be working, or the fact that she smelled like apple cider donuts, but she felt a glimpse of Hope.

The older woman whispered, “Hi Emma, I’m Meredith, I’ve been expecting you.”

Shaken by this, Emma stuttered, “How do you know my name, what…. What.. what do you mean you’ve been expecting me?”

Meredith smiled warmly and said, “He knew you’d come. Before he passed,Old man Rob, came to me, and said this is for my granddaughter, Catfish, my sweet Emma. Save this for her, do not sell it, and do not send it to her, she will come when the time is right.”

She handed her a well kept letter, sealed with wax. Addressed to ‘Catfish’.

Eagerly and carefully she opened the envelope and began to read.

“My dearest Catfish, you came into my life like a jolt of hope. My desire is that you live a full life!

A life filled with joy, true love, self respect, discovery, awe and bliss. I once thought after 60 years of living that was it, but you, my sweet sweet Emma you made me rediscover life.

So I’ll leave you with this, the prime of your life is what you make of it. So live! Live in freedom, in laughter and of course coffee. This is the prime of your life. “

Love always,

Grandpa

Ps. I’m never too far”

Emma walked out, holding a giant mirror in one hand and the confidence she hadn’t felt in a long time. The wind tousled her hair playfully, and through her dark sunglasses she looked up at the sky and smirked.