Reflecting Me

I’ve always been an outsider at my school. I guess it’s because of my personality. I’m shy and don't talk much. It’s not as if the other kids don’t like me, I can’t blame them. They did try talking to me before, but my answers were only a word or two. I suppose they eventually got bored of trying to include me when I wasn’t even trying myself. 

I raised my hand timidly to attract Ms. Miles' attention. She saw my hand and called on me. All the eyes turned to me, I winced. I don’t like being the center of attention. If it wasn’t that I drank too much water during lunch, I wouldn’t have the need to go to the restroom. 

“May I use the restroom?” I spoke in a soft voice, almost a whisper.
Ms. Miles obviously didn’t hear me, “Um… Sorry sweetie, I didn’t hear you. Could you repeat that again?”
“May I use the restroom?” I spoke louder and clearer.
Somebody snickered, my face grew tomato red.
Ms. Miles frowned and said in a strict voice, “James, stop it. Yes you may.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally over with it. Slowly, I got out of my seat. I didn’t want the sliding of the chair to draw more eyes on me. I exited out of the classroom quickly. 

I washed my hands, listening to the sound of the water, nervous by the presence of a group of girls standing beside me. Don’t notice me, do not notice me, please! I pleaded inside my head. Then, I saw my reflection. It was smiling, but… I wasn’t! It tiptoed to the reflection of one of the girls in the group next to me. I tried to stop the reflection of… I can’t say it’s me, now can I? Without realizing, I had banged on the mirror. The sound echoed around, the girls turned towards me. I was horrified. No, no, no, no, no! Why had it come to this? I glared at the reflection in the mirror of me. It gave me a huge and warm smile. I saw her mouth moving into the shape of words, saying,

“Go on, do what you have always dreamed of.”

I turned to the group of girls. There was silence. The dripping water from the faucet was the only sound. I breathed in a huge breath and spoke,

“Hi guys, could I join in your talk?”

They looked at me in awe, as if this was the longest sentence I had ever spoken to them (to be honest, it was). Then a girl with a high ponytail broke into a huge grin,

“Yeah sure, your banging was frightening and scary, but… kind of cool!”

Then the others joined in. I looked back at my reflection, it was back to how it should’ve been. When I turned back on it, I caught a wink.

 

LQL

CA

16 years old

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