Still in the Mirror

Willow  张累赢  220110110

Once again, before falling asleep, Elvis clasped his hands together and prayed, "I hope tonight is spent safely, and, no joking, please let the world be destroyed."

Caught in a nightmare, Elvis, who had slept restlessly, was woken up by the light source and found a mirror that emitted a faint blue light lying quietly next to the dead branches and leaves on his pillow, reflecting his dazed eyes with a hint of curiosity in the darkness. He stretched out his hand to touch it and lost consciousness as it went dark.

When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see that the scene before him was so familiar—in the dazzling sunlight was the small village from which he had struggled to escape, where he had been subjected to inhuman abuse. He thought: did I really escape from those demons?

He took a step, but he tripped over something; he looked down to see that it was a miniature version of the mirror from before, with only one sentence on it: Welcome to the world in the mirror, where everything is the opposite of reality.

Upon seeing this, the boy's eyes widened: If this is the case, then I want to destroy this world. I don't want to protect this world; how can this be?!

Trying his best to calm down, he began his journey in the mirror. Looking around, green shoots emerged from the originally bare branches and even the chirping of birds could be heard. And then along the wide avenue, there were actually many more small houses behind the originally sporadic houses, like a united family. But upon closer inspection, the door of the first house was locked; he tried to find a trace of the others, but only his shadow accompanied him on the clean and tidy patch.

He clenched his fists and made up his mind: It's time for me to start my plan to destroy the world!

The young boy prepared to carry out the first step of the plan – destroying the surrounding trees. He picked up stones on the side of the road and tried to grind off the bark, but to little avail. Then he changed his approach and struggled to climb the tree, almost falling to the ground halfway through because he was hungry and tired at the moment. He plucked the leaves violently and threw them to the ground, startling the birds that inhabited the woods that hovered above him with a wail, as if accusing the boy of destroying their home. He frowned and snorted coldly: "I'll let you go this time."

He came down from the tree and shifted his gaze to the silent house, “so let you be reduced to ashes”, he grinned. But where would the fire come from?

Elvis thought of the story of "drilling wood for fire" told to him by his mother a long time ago; since there are so many trees here, then he must be able to make flames!

Thinking of this, the boy found some branches and leaves and began the difficult process of making fire. With continuous attempts and failures, his mood became more and more low, like the sky that had darkened unconsciously, and he rubbed his red eyes with his dirty hands: “Am I so useless? What is the point of my existence?”

"Of course, it makes sense, kid," behind him suddenly came the voice of a generous old man.

"Who is it?!" Elvis jerked his head around, but was startled - there were so many people that he suddenly lost his breath and bent over and coughed frantically.

The old man stepped forward and gently patted his stiff back: "Don't be afraid; we have no malice. It has been such a long time since anyone from outside of this village has come to us."

The boy raised his head and shot his sharp eyes at the man who could be his grandfather: "I don't believe that this village is a paradise for criminals."

The old man smiled gently: "Have you forgotten? Here is the world opposite to your reality, everything is."

After that, he led the dazed little boy and introduced this different world while walking towards the "united family".

As they walked, they saw the leaves that had been thrown away by Elvis, making the otherwise clean road a mess.

Elvis pursed his lips, still not saying anything.

The crowd behind the others was silent too; only the old man holding him increased the force that led him: "It's okay, naughty little boy."

Elvis was touched in his heart: Why weren't they angry? In reality, there was no reason for these demons to scold him, but they still did. Is this really the opposite of acquaintance? The little boy slowly believed what the old man said.

Since that time, the boy settled here. Living with the elderly, resting in the house when the sun rises, and coming out to move when the sun goes down. In the process, his eyes and his heart felt the kindness of the

people. People here were always smiling and laughing and waving when they saw him. When he faced difficulties, everyone would reach out to help him. And even if he made a mistake, people would forgive him and help him correct it. Everything was full of love.

Ten years had passed, and Elvis had gradually grown up with love and had become a handsome, polite, sensible young man.

It was a rarely cloudy day. Elvis had to face separation because the old man was too old. Elvis stood by his bedside, crying silently. The old man took his hand as usual and said softly: "Child, don't be sad, this is only a necessary stage of life, and I will always watch you from another world."

Elvis nodded: "I know." The tears did not stop.

The old man continued to whisper: "Thank you, child, you made my life more colorful and meaningful. You have to believe that you are unique in the world. "

Elvis couldn't hold back any longer, after the old man had finished speaking and closed his eyes, he fell on top of him and began to howl.

After that, Elvis could be called a man who stands tall.

Time was like an arrow; the sun and the moon were like a shuttle. It was time to pay a part again, and this time it was Elvis’s turn to say goodbye to the world. He looked back on his life and finally left this world with a smile.

In the darkness, Elvis opened his eyes again, and he found that he was back to where he had entered the mirror, which glowed blue again, this time with only one sentence: "Goodbye." Then the mirror stopped shining and lay quietly among the leaves.

At this time, a light shone in the distance, the sky broke, and Elvis set out in the direction of the sunrise.

Years later, when reporters interviewed Elvis, the famous philanthropist, he just smiled: "I'm just still in the mirror."

（张累赢）