F I V E

Mia declined any food offered, insisting she was fine.

The pain in her throat had subsided and the taste of iron barely there. That was a relief.

She watched her parents eat silently,while they made small talk now and then. Her father occasionally spared her a smile.

The appointed nurse came in at the moment and joined them on the table.

"What really caused that?"She asked somewhere in between their conversation.

"She chewed on chunks of mirror...how stupid."Her mother replied sipping on her glass of water.

"It may have been accidental."Mia's father came to her rescue.

Mia pushed her chair back roughly and got up from the table,heading to her room.

________

Do you need anything else?"The nurse asks Mia handing her the glass of water she requested.

She shook he head no. The nurse excused herself to get her bag downstairs.

"I could actually use a sandwi-..."She stopped and gasped.

She brought her hands on her throat and pressed around, nothing.

"Am okay!"She half yelled excitedly.

Her phone rang at the same moment and she grabbed it from the night stand. It was Lea from school,she barely talked to her but at least she knew her.

She accepted the video chat and made herself comfortable.

"Is it true?"The girl on the screen asked immediately.

"What?"Mia asked frowning.

"Is it true you cut because Nate turned you down?"

"Nate rejected me?"Mia asked scoffing. They were not even dating!

Sure she had a liking for the hot bad boy but 'whaaat?'

"That's not true!"She added finally.

"Oh come on Mia,like everyone knew you were chasing him!"

Mia gave a shy smile and scratched the back of her neck.

"The little expensive gifts you left for him...the extra dedications on the morning announcements...eh?"

"Okay I get it."Mia whispered.

"Shit oh my,shit!"Lea gasped pointing at her.

"What Lea?"

"What is that behind you?"

"What?"

"It's like a little girl in white..."Lea answered seating up."Are you playing a joke on me?"

Mia knew it had to be it. The image from the clearest mirror. She was regretting her choice of mirrors all-over the room.

"You're kidding right?"She replied gulping.

"No,Mia...you're kidding me! It's like those shows where you fool someone,but joke's on you!Ha ha...what is she doing with a knife?"

"A-I have to..."Mia's heart beat was increasing to an abnormal level. Her palms went all sweaty and her limbs froze.

A thin streak of sweat made its way down her forehead. She couldn't remember how to breath, chanting 'in' and 'out' to keep her lungs alive.

The line went dead and she cursed. The room was awfully quiet.

And no,she tried with all her might not to turn. With her eyes shut she moved back and pulled the covers.

"Do you sleep with your lights on?"The British nurse asked getting in the room.

"No."

"Oh,does your throat hurt?" She asked surprised.

Mia shook her head seating up.

"Wow,that's great!I met a charming lady in the kitchen causing my delay...but all is good,am glad you are better!"

Mia looked around at each mirror,maybe Lea was just playing with her. But what bothered her the most was her pressing bowel.

The lady was getting ready for bed. When she picked her toothbrush,Mia saw this as an opportunity for company in the bathroom.

She shot up from the bed and made for the bathroom.

The nurse gave her a small smile as she walked past to the washroom.

Mia got out and tied her hair into a ponytail with the band in her wrist.

She decided to make small talk with the nurse.

Looking up,she smiled with a simple question of her name.Vut she was long done.

Her head shot up to the most clearest mirror and she froze for a second.

Nothing different,still her.

She sighed gratefully and opened the faucet.

A squeaking noise brought her head back up.The mirror went all misty and an invisible hand scribbled on it.

'THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG!'

"No,no no."Mia chanted shutting her eyes for a brief second.

When she looked back up,her image smiled. Mia bolted out of the washroom banging the door shut.

"What's up?"The nurse asked placing her laptop on the floor.

Mia shook her head no and blinked away the moisture in her eyes. She was surely going to die.

"You know the act of not caring is a habit of those who care the most."She told Mia with a smile.

Mia forgot her fears for one moment and gave her a small smile.

"She cares Mia, admitting it wounds her ego,but she does."

Mia nodded and walked to her bed. The words seemed to help her feel better.

She cared.

A small genuine smile crept up her face...fading almost immediately...the night is still young.