Zoned out, I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror. I don't like looking at me. Honestly, I don't even like me period. The first rays of light from another miserable day creep through the frosted window and mix with the flourescents. &quot;I'm sorry,&quot; I say with a sigh. &quot;What was that dear?&quot; she calls from the bedroom. &quot;Nothing, just thinking out loud...&quot; I trail off into mumbling intentionally. She's a lovely woman, so kind and caring. It's tragic really, that she wound up with me I mean. There's certainly nothing tragic about her intrinsically. It occurs to me I should put a shirt on, though I'm not sure how that will change anything. I roll the box over and over in my fingers, though I don't look at it directly, just in the mirror. That way it's not really here. It's not really today. It's there, over in mirror land, with that guy who looks kind of like me but never quite like how I imagine myself. Deep breath. One last flex for the mirror. It's now or never, once I put a shirt on. 2008-04-17T21:04:31Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/26967 <p>Nice little peek into what the guy thinks, and probably what some of us think but just don&#8217;t say. But then, that&#8217;s part of your job, I assume.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=57143 2008-04-17T21:04:31Z Stovohobo http://ficlets.com/authors/stovohobo <p>oooh&#8230;what&#8217;s the box?</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=56281 2008-04-14T16:03:26Z someday_93 http://ficlets.com/authors/someday_93 <p>very good. Love the describtions and such. =)<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=55935 2008-04-13T01:51:23Z .:band baby:. http://ficlets.com/authors/bandbaby <p>This is awesome. It&#8217;s so real, especially the last line (I think). I just kind of assumed what the box was&#8230;</p> <p>LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=55168 2008-04-09T00:37:36Z Valley Fey/Pinprick http://ficlets.com/authors/imandynan0 <p>wow&#8230;..the box&#8230;</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54954 2008-04-08T00:29:58Z User 8538 http://ficlets.com/authors/lealahh <p>Thats a poor self image.. lucky guy still to have a wife and love. powerful writing. one of your best. cynical. but real.<br />LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54921 2008-04-07T23:25:02Z SKermitgorf http://ficlets.com/authors/kermitgorf <p>That must be some special box!</p> <p>I love how the poor guy feels, looking at himself. I&#8217;ve often wondered about the mirror world&#8230;.now there&#8217;s a good idea for another entry&#8230;..</p> <p>LoA</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54861 2008-04-07T20:30:13Z Mistress Elsha Hawk http://ficlets.com/authors/mistress_elsha_hawk <p>I like this ficlet, the writing is ismple yet powerful. Elisha did say that she wanted sequels, and I can already think of one or two things that the box could be for&#8230;hmmm, I might just come back to this one</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54832 2008-04-07T17:06:04Z Ridcully Calvert http://ficlets.com/authors/user_joon <p>I was wondering the same thing about the box, it sorta confused me. But ya, it is sad that he thinks of himself that way.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54830 2008-04-07T17:02:26Z flute faerie http://ficlets.com/authors/user_6061 <p>It&#8217;s really sad that too many of us have that kind of self-image, but great empathy in the writing here. What&#8217;s the box?</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/26967?basename=54826 2008-04-07T16:44:29Z BARomero http://ficlets.com/authors/baromero