I walked briskly into my office building, my head still smarting where I’d fallen into the mirror earlier this morning. Silly really, I missed my alarm and woken up later than usual, and in my rush to get ready for the day ahead I’d tripped head first into the beautiful antique mirror I had purchased from a quaint little shop a few days ago.

“Good morning, Janice!” I greeted the receptionist. Her puzzled expression should have been my first hint that something was off, but I’d barely noticed in my haste to get to the elevator.

Getting off the elevator at the 13th floor, I made a quick stop at the break room for a much needed cup of coffee. However, as I reached for my favourite mug that I kept on the top shelf of the cupboard closest to the coffee machine, I saw that it was missing. No one had ever dared take my mug before! This should have been my second hint, but instead of heeding it I angrily filled another cup and stalked towards my office.

Fortunately, it was not my favourite mug that fell from my hands as I opened the door and froze in shock.

“Yes, Mr. Brighton, I will absolutely have that presentation ready for you on Thursday! Alright, see you then!” Came the voice from the brunette woman currently seated and typing away at my desk. My voice.

“What in the-!?”

“Excuse me, I’m in the middle of-“ The woman’s words cut off as she finally looked up from my computer, looking just as astounded as I was. “How- who-?”

Unable to form words, I simply dropped onto the sofa against the wall nearest the door and stared into the frighteningly familiar blue eyes of my doppelgänger.

Taking a deep breath in an attempt to settle myself, I tried to think of the most rational explanation- I was hallucinating. I had obviously hit my head harder than I’d realized that morning, and I have a concussion; that MUST be it.

“I suppose I should have gone to the hospital after all.”

“Sorry?”

“This morning. I fell and hit my head against an old mirror, and now I’ve gone crazy; I should have gone to the hospital and gotten a CT scan.”

“An old mirror? Large, oval, heavy ornamental gold frame?”

“Yes, I bought it at a little antique shop on 16th and Main.”

“A Past Life?” I nodded in confirmation. “You’re sure you bought this mirror there?”

“Yes, of course I’m sure!” I snapped, not understanding why my hallucination seemed to be putting so much importance into the mirror and where I’d gotten it from.

“I bought the same mirror, presumably at the same time, from the same place. The woman at the counter, she said-“ She hesitated, as if bracing herself against the impossibility of what she was considering “-she said it was cursed, that it’s “a mirror to the other side.””

I stared uncomprehendingly at her for a brief moment, before realization dawned on me and laughter bubbled it’s way up my throat.

“You’re joking! You don’t truly believe in that sort of nonsense, do you?”

“Do you have a better explanation for what’s going on?” She questioned.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do! I’ve already told you, I hit my head rather hard, and I’m concussed- that’s all!”

“Are you so sure?”

No. “Look, I don’t know what’s happening to me right now, all I know is I’ve suffered a head injury, and I clearly need some rest. I’m going to take the day off, go home, and get some rest, and then I will wake up to find this was all a ridiculous dream.”

“Good luck!” She calls to me as I make my escape.

“A hallucination, just a terrible, incredibly realistic nightmare!” I try to convince myself as I walk through my front door.

I make my up the stairs to my bedroom, only to be stopped dead in my tracks for the second time today.

There, on my wall, where my mirror sat perfectly fine and intact just this morning are the words ‘NO WAY HOME’ written in what appears to be black marker, and on the floor is my new mirror. Shattered.