The Mirror

"So friend, when I first looked upon your face, our thoughts gave answer each to each. Opposed mirrors each reflecting each, although I knew not in what time or place, me thought that I had often met with you, and each had lived in other's mind and speech.

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson ~

Chapter 1

As a child, I had often wondered what my destiny would be, and as we all do from time to time, made up little stories of how the handsome Prince would come galloping over the horizon on his trusty steed, ready to carry me away to my future happiness. Huh! That was never to be. I'm not saying that my life has always been devoid of romance, but I'm afraid, good looking Princes on horseback are only a part of a little girl's fantasy and should not be, on any account, carried forward into the grown up world. Maybe I allowed my fairytale Prince to stick around a little too long which basically ruined every chance of romance that came my way. No one ever measured-up in comparison to my 'Prince Charming' - that's the problem with having standards of course! Any chink found in the guy's armour and he was condemned to the dustbin of life without a second glance. After all, what is the point of retaining purposeless men?

Oh, by the way, my name is Charlie Buckton. I live in a coastal town in Australia called Summer Bay. It's a cosy little town with a moderate population and on the whole, the folks are pleasant and life moves along slowly, but not unpleasantly. Of course, we do have our moments!

I am the Senior Constable at Yabbie Creek Police Station. Summer Bay comes under the auspice of Yabbie Creek district Council, and here, I live with my sister, Ruby, who's nearly seventeen. She's one of the few people who know me as well as I know myself, or perhaps, better. She is always there to bestow love and support and not ungenerously, either. I like my sister; I like her very much. We share a house with a friend, Leah and her son VJ. We all get along famously, but both Ruby and VJ are growing up fast and the house is beginning to shrink in size for us all. This is why I decided it was time Ruby and I left and purchased a property of our own.

I'd been checking the estate agent windows and local newspapers for months, but had found nothing which seemed to tick all the right boxes. Each evening, I would wind-up my laptop and scan the internet sites for further possibilities. I was at my wits end and almost on the verge of giving up, when three months ago something rather strange happened...

"Hi Rubes!" I called. "Did you remember to call dad?"

"Yeah, but he wants to speak to you, Charlie! He says that my word isn't good enough. Really don't know what I have to do to prove that I'm not a five year old anymore!"

Ruby was exasperated. She wanted to learn to drive, but dad was being over cautious about the whole thing.

"It's only because he cares for you, sweetheart! I'll ring him later and have a chat. If he knows I approve, then maybe he will be a little less... over protective about it."

Ruby seemed happy with this and thanked me before skipping off to meet her friends at The Diner. I smiled as I remembered how happy I was when I was about to learn to drive.

My phone rang interrupting my reverie; it was the estate agent.

"Good evening, Miss. Buckton."

It was unusual for someone to use my formal title. I was used to being addressed as Senior Constable or even Charlie. Most unusual to be called 'Miss. Buckton'!

"Good evening."

"A property which I believe might interest you has come onto our books this afternoon. I thought you might like to take a look. It's on our web site... it's in Ocean View Drive. The name of the property is 'Bay Breeze'."

"Humm, pretty name." I mused. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll take a look."

"Good. Well, let me know if you'd like a viewing and I will arrange it. The house is in vacant possession; the lady of the house having passed away just recently."

"Oh, I'm sorry." I said compassionately. "I'll be in touch, if I'm interested."

"Many thanks, Miss. Buckton. I look forward to your call. I feel sure you'll be touch!"

I rolled my eyes at his confidence; so far he hadn't been able to make much of an impression on me property-wise, and I wondered why he thought this place would be any different.

***

I made myself a light meal and placed it on the kitchen table. I hurried off to my bedroom and took up my laptop; at least looking wouldn't hurt.

I clicked on the estate agents web site and waited for the properties to flicker onto the screen. Suddenly, the screen went completely blue and I swore softly under my breath. It would mean re-booting and starting all over again. I took a bite of my food and prepared to 'control, alt, delete' when, much to my surprise, the screen cleared and I was back onto the estate agents property display page. I pulled a face, but began to scroll down, recognising most of the properties already on offer. That is, until I came to the last one on the list.

It was a pretty looking house, maybe a little run down and as the 'jargon' suggested, was "in need of some tender, loving care".

"Much the same as me!" I muttered under my breath.

I clicked on the picture and waited as the green dots at the bottom of the screen jumped into action. The page flickered and wobbled, but at last came to rest, displaying a larger picture of the property and several smaller ones showing various rooms around the house. I studied the details and was pleasantly surprised to see that the estate agent had indeed been right when he suggested that this property would be interesting.

I clicked on one of the other pictures which showed me the kitchen; old but not without its charm. I especially liked the Butler sink! The next picture was of the lounge, which was large, airy and had a brick built fireplace. Rather unusual, I thought, but it made a nice focal point in the room, even if it was never used. The next picture was of the bathroom and the next three; the bedrooms. The first bedroom was the smallest of the three. This could be used as a guest room. The next was the medium sized bedroom, which I ear-marked for Ruby and the last was the master bedroom. I popped in my last mouthful of food and pushed the plate away, leaning my elbows on the table and getting a closer look at the room which was to be mine. It was bright and airy and the details mentioned that it overlooked the sea. I could almost imagine myself lying on my bed and breathing in the delicious aromas of the sea breezes first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

I was drifting away with this thought when suddenly something caught my eye. I hadn't noticed it to begin with, but there was a figure standing in the room. It was a young woman, to be exact, a reflection of a young woman; her image caught in a mirror on the wall as the estate agent had taken the picture. I stared for sometime at the young woman's face. She had a pretty face, a very pretty face, but more than that... she had a look of mystery about her. She wasn't looking at the camera; it was almost as if she was looking directly at me. Her hair was long and flowing and she had the most beautiful, chocolate brown eyes I'd ever seen. I couldn't take my eyes from her. I thought back quickly to my conversation with the agent, who I am sure mentioned the house was in vacant possession. I frowned, wondering who the girl was, but then of course, she may have been a colleague of the photographer. But there was something in her eyes which stirred my soul. I blinked a few times and shook my head trying to dispel the feeling which she gave me.

I quickly clicked back on the picture of the lounge and closed my eyes for a few moments. The picture of the girl had left me feeling quite odd. I got up from the table and felt dizzy. I steadied myself and walked over to the sink; pouring myself a glass of water. I looked back at my lap top but all I could see was the girl's pretty brown eyes before me. I swallowed some water and took the glass back with me to the table.

The house certainly did tick all the boxes and I, but for the picture of the girl, would have been most excited; almost ready to beg the estate agent to give me a viewing that very evening. But somehow, the image of the girl in the mirror had unnerved me. I wasn't used to anyone, let alone a picture, having such an uncanny effect on me. I looked over each of the enlarged pictures again, except the one of the master bedroom; instead, glancing at the smaller picture on the screen.

"Oh! That's odd!" I muttered to myself. "I can't see her in the picture now!"

I doubled clicked on the image to enlarge it, but the brown eyed girl had, indeed, vanished!