Reflections of a Stranger
Staring into the mirror can be an unsettling experience. Besides thinking about all the horror movies and the possibility that Bloody Mary may come out to greet you; looking into your own eyes is scary within itself. What begins as a casual glance often turns into intense scrutiny, as if seeking answers within the reflection. Perhaps the mirror image can answer for all the past regrets and experiences. Why did you choose to do what you did? Why do you look like this? How could you allow yourself to fall this low? Why can’t you just be happy? The mirror becomes a portal, revealing not just physical attributes but the layers of one’s identity.
The longer you look, the more you realize that the person staring back at you is both familiar and foreign. There’s a disconnect that grows with each second, like a camera panning 360 degrees, memorizing every flaw and projecting it back to you. A never-ending movie of every action that you questioned that inevitably led you to this very moment. The eyes in the reflection are your own, yet they seem to belong to a stranger.
Who are you really? The lines on your face, the expression in your eyes, and even the way you hold yourself; remnants of someone else. Where did this version come from? How have you arrived at this point?
Disorientation deepens as you grapple with memories and experiences that shaped you. Some are vivid, others are blurred, but all contribute to the person in the mirror. Yet, despite knowing your history, there’s an undeniable feeling of unfamiliarity. You begin to feel unmoored, disconnected from the person you once were. From the carefree child, captured in memory and vintage Polaroid stills, to the stark lines of cold digital that frame the overly filtered person you’ve become.
A moment of clarity peeks through; a deafening need to redefine and reclaim your identity. A daunting task, filled with uncertainty and introspection. Delving deep into your desires, aspirations, and values to uncover some essence of who you want to become.
The process of recreation is both liberating and challenging. Shedding old layers, confronting uncomfortable truths, and embracing the unknown. As you piece together a new version of yourself, the reflection begins to morph and shift, reflecting both the stranger you have become and the person you once were. A decision looms: to completely change that façade or to accept the creature that stares blankly back.
Snapping back from introspection, the vision settles to a single image. A quiet resolve washes over you. Falling back into yourself, a subtle smile forming as you acknowledge the journey. Turning away from the mirror, you walk forward, carrying the weight of your reflection and the promise of what lies ahead.