Epilogue

"My 18th birthday came and went. I graduated high school, inherited all of the properties, and even got a part time job. Life was going smoothly for now. All was well. But compared to what was important, those little things didn't mean anything.

I could finally call a mirror by its name and I could look into one smiling. It was a large progress. I have gotten over my parents death mostly. Their burial happened 2 weeks after their death. I went through a lot in the past 7 months, and I must say I'm proud of myself." I put down my pen and looked down at what I've written. With a nod, I turned back the pages to a few months ago, and caught a loose page as it fell out. Closing my journal, I read over what I once wrote by the lake with a smile.

Lifting my head when I heard an excited bark come from my sitting room, I laughed when Alaska came jumping in and pulling me through the door. Placing the loose sheet of paper on my journal, I turned off the lights and left the room. As Alaska bounded out of the room, his tail pushed the loose piece of paper to the floor. When the door closed, the writing became readable.

"A mirror is more than a reflection of your appearance; it is also a reflection of your soul. Being afraid of mirrors or your own reflection is okay if you know how damaged you are. Sometimes you don't know, and only a broken mirror can show you.

A mirror can withstand more than you think it can. Push and hit, it may never break, and you might never see a crack. But sometimes, a kind word or gentle caress can break a mirror more than sometimes possible.

In a way, people are like mirrors. Both reflect a person, and can leave hand or finger prints on each other. You are afraid of some people, are you not? It's okay. You will get better. And so will I.

One day, when I'm almost healed, I will look back and read this, and think about how far I've come. But that time is not now. It will be soon though."