Tap. Tap. Tap.

It was a day. A routine of staying in bed as memories crawled in her head and messed with her thoughts. It shouldn't bother her though, it happens a lot so she should get used to it by now, right? Shouldn't she stay numb as the emotions eat her whole? Leaving her mind void?

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Once again she didn't sleep. It wasn't like she didn't want to, she couldn't. She won't blame anyone but herself for developing such a disorder. Sleep hadn't knocked on her door properly for months, but that was the least of her problems. It has been three consecutive years since she has received actual fresh air asides air conditioners and ceiling fans.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It wasn't like she was locked up in an asylum, she was simply trapped.

Her parents told her that everything was going to be fine. But of course, they were really bad at lying. They never knew she existed until she had her incident that ended her up in her room, which was filled with disgustingly bright coloured stuffed animals. She had told those nurses numerous times that she was an adult. But she didn't want to admit that hugging Stephanie, the stuffed panda, made her feel at ease. She found comfort in her, she was the only one that understood her loneliness in this enclosed space.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Go away," She ordered.

"Alana." A familiar voice sung her name out in such melody it made her stomach turn.

"I said go away."

"My my. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

She glared at the rectangular sized mirror . "Go away."

She tried copying the monstrous look on her face but failed terribly with an uncontrollable laughter. "God. Learn how to lighten up the mood for once."

Alana diverted her eyes to the kettle that whistled for her.

"What's putting you off this morning? Menstrual cramps?"

She ignored.

"Come on, at least say hello to a good friend," She stood in front of her with a pout.

"You are not real."

Of course she wasn't real, she was a reflection that's speaking to her. It wasn't the first time she had an encounter with her, it probably won't be her last. The more she tried to erase her out of existence, the more it became difficult, so she gave up trying. She didn't want to live like this forever, but her stupid episodes had to occur.

"Alana," She spoke once again, leaning down to get a better look of her face. "Looks like you haven't been sleeping well again."

"Who can sleep in peace when morons like you tap on the mirror continuously?"

She laughed once again. "I tend to tick people off sometimes."

"Well you're doing it right."

There was a long pause in the room before she spoke. "How are you, Alana?"

"Are you seriously going to ask me that?"

"I'm just trying to start a friendly conversation," She defended. "Geez, feisty much."

Alana stood up and walked towards the kettle, disconnecting it from the outlet. "I've been here with Stephanie for three years. I have no contact with any mortal outside my home. My boyfriend is now dating my best friend behind my back. My parents think I'm psychotic. I look like a zombie being raw fucked by another zombie. And I'm talking to my reflection that miraculously walked out of the mirror. Of course I'm fine."

"That's a lot to take in." She scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "When do you think you'll ever get out of here?"

"I don't know." Her shoulders slumped before walking back to her bed. She followed suit as she collapsed on it.

"Do you think you're ready to connect with people again?"

Yes. She wanted to say, but it couldn't come out. She didn't know if she was ready, but she wanted to leave this place. She was getting a bit better. Her episodes hadn't occurred in months now, she didn't have her eating disorder anymore. Her doctor had given her at least a month before she would be finally free from this room, from this life. But three month has passed, and yet she was still indoors.

"I don't know." She sighed. "I feel better, I think I'm better. Why won't they let me leave?" She reached out for Stephanie that laid peacefully on her pillow.

"Because you're a psycho?"

She shot her a death glare.

She raised her hands up in surrender with a small giggle.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing really, just thinking about the fact that you're not sure."

"Not sure about what?"

"Not sure about living your life."

"Stop confusing me." She clutched Stephanie tightly to her chest.

"How am I confusing you? I'm right aren't I?"

"You're not supposed to tell me anything. You're not real."

"Of course I'm real." She flashed a set of perfect white teeth. "We've been friends for quite some time, you should get used to me by now."

She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she'll  block her out. This thing has been nothing but an unwanted fragment from her mind, a mistake she let out. Now she was stuck with whatever it was that decided to take her reflection for a body. She just wanted her to leave, she has confused her countless times and she was sick of it. She wants to live again but she's making her think otherwise.

"You know I'm still here, right?"

She sighed before opening her eyes. "Sadly."

She rolled her eyes. "But seriously though, you really want to live?"

"Obviously."

"You want to get out of this place and meet the people that got you here in the first place?"

"Well..." She trailed off. Leaving here meant that she'll have contact with people, certain people that never made her life joyful. Things weren't going her way for some time, only for humans to make things complicated with never ending dramas. Her life was a circle that didn't seem to have an end.

"Sandor tried to hurt you, you want to see him too?"

Thoughts of that incident gave her goosebumps. She didn't want to think about it but she couldn't stop her mind from materializing that event. Her parents didn't believe her story up to this day. They said she was only feeling envious of her brother, she needed to appreciate all what he had done for her. The only thing she would appreciate is the news of his death. He had done nothing but tarnish the little piece of her image. She'd rather see a vulture than a person that isn't worthy of being the devil.

"He's living at the other side of the world. What makes you think I'll see him?"

"Your parents would obviously tell him to come see his precious little sister, for she is lonely and sad."

She laughed at her death glare.

"I want to get out."

"You don't sound so sure."

Alana stood up and walked towards the mirror. "I'm sure. I've been here for too long."

Her reflection stared back at her with those hazel eyes that held something. Emptiness was the right word. The circles under her eyes were almost as black as charcoal, her eye bags had gotten worse. The little bit of light in her eyes were no more, they were nothing but holes staring back at her soul.

"Oh Alana." Her reflection shook her head slightly with a small smile as she plastered her hand on the mirror. "What did you do to deserve all this?"

Alana stared at her, then plastered her own palm opposite hers, the coldness of the glass sent shivers down her spine. Her question lingered in her head for a moment.

"I was born," Alana replied bluntly.

She sighed loudly with a smile on her face once more. "I suggest you should think about living your life, if that's what you really want."

The smile on her face slowly disappeared, now mimicking Alana's distant look. Her reflection was back to her reflection.

She exhaled loudly and brought Stephanie to her chest, letting the stuffed panda to discard the negativity in her. She closed her eyes, wishing for the sudden pain in her chest to disappear.