He yawned, stretching out as he got up and began his usual morning routine.   “So, up and ready to hide from the world again are you?” a voice asked him from the darkness that was still within his room.   The boy turned to face his large standing mirror and smiled “Yep, My friends and I have plans this morning, but you already know that don’t you.”

   Looking into the mirror he checked over his hair and smiled at himself, then something happened he’d never seen before, the image in the mirror crossed its arms and smirked at him.   “What, you looked surprised to see me, I’m you remember?”   The boy shrugged “Yeah I guess that’s true, now what do you mean, hide from the world again?” he asked his reflection.   “Oh right, that, its simple, your going out, with that same old mask you always wear, I find it funny that’s all, You’d think someone would see through it at some point.”   “What are you talking about, I don’t wear a mask, I just be myself.”

   The reflection laughed “Yourself, you haven’t been yourself since you were a child.”   The boy frowned at that, “I don’t know what your talking about, I’m just me, always have been.”   The boy turned and began to walk to the door when the words the mirror spoke next froze him in his tracks.   “Is that why you cry yourself to sleep each night?”   The boy turned slowly, the smirk in the mirror’s reflection grew, “That’s right, I know all about that.”   “Th…That’s not true…”   “Isn’t it though, tell me, why is it you hurt so much deep inside, if your always so cheerful around your friends?”

   The boy looked at the floor and mumbled quietly “We all have pains we keep to ourselves.”   “Pains so deep you cry out for heaven to send you an angel, or a friend, or just anything, if only it could hold you while you cry, to help you face those pains that are to great for you to bare. I’m curious, you help others when they face there troubles, why are they never around for you?”   “They, they are busy, with jobs, and other friends, and things like that, They have lives to live just like I do.”   “True, but you always seem to find time to help those you care about, you’d think they’d be willing to do the same for you.”   The boy sighed and shook his head quickly growing angry at the mirror “They have always been there when I needed them most, I love and cherish my friends!”   The image in the mirror began to laugh in a voice as cold as ice, “They’ve been there. They have been there, you’re a fool! They have never been there when you needed them most you stupid boy!   All those nights you screamed out at the darkness, praying for someone, anyone to come and comfort you, where were they then!? Your just lying to yourself.” The voice mocked, the boy dropping to his knees as it spoke, his head lowered as tears began to form within his eyes.

   “It, Its true, they have never been there for me, when I needed them most. But I don’t hold it against them, they are my loved ones, besides, I’ve managed to get along without them this long, so I wear a mask to hide my pains, big deal, so far no one has ever been able to see through it, well ok a few have but still, I’d rather not have my friends and loved ones know just how deep this pain goes.”   The boy’s tears began to fall as the image in the mirror began to laugh once more, “No one has ever seen through it, you’ve made it perfectly. The only time anyone, and I mean anyone has ever seen through it, is when you wanted them to see through it, you weaken it just enough for those closest to you, I wonder what would happen if they were to ever find out that the only reason they think they know you is because you decided to let a few things slip?”   The boy jumped up slamming his fist into the mirror, small spider-web cracks spread through it as he growls “They are my friends! I will not have you speaking about them as such do you hear me! I trust them with my life, even if they can’t see through my mask, I give them all that I am whenever I can. I give them my heart and soul, so much so that I don’t have anything left over to keep myself strong, that’s why I hurt so deeply you jerk! “   The image in the mirror frowned at the outburst, “That won’t help you, you may be able to lie to them, but you can never lie to me, for I am you, the you that only you will ever see, I am your reflection.”

   The boy growls and pounds his fist into the mirror until it finally gives from the stress and shatters.   The pieces dropping to the floor as the boy leans against the wall, his tears streaming down his cheeks as he breathes deeply.   He straightens at a soft knock on the door, “Honey, is everything alright in there, I thought I heard something break.”   He surprised himself at how calm and level his voice became “Yeah, everything is fine mother, I tripped and broke my mirror, don’t worry I’m alright, I’ll be out soon.”   “Alright honey, if you say so.”   After just another moment he began to finish getting dressed then stopped to look down into the largest piece of mirror left, his reflection staring up at him, a dark smirk on its face, “See, you even lie to your own mother, have you no sense of being true to your loved ones?”   “How I choose to live my life, is the path I choose and no one else’s, I won’t waste time worrying about my problems, I’ve to much else to do.”

   With one final growl he stomped down on the glass crushing it under his shoe, then walked out of his room, the troubles of the morning already forgotten, thoughts of his nights long vanished from his mind, already the mask he wears has taken hold, the smile so gentle and sweet, the eyes that show only love and kindness, the voice that can gentle even the darkest of hearts.   He went out and into the day, ready to face life as it comes, and with no thoughts of his pains until they overwhelm him in the night once more.