Man in the mirror

He was always there, the man. I saw him constantly whenever I walked past shop windows and window panes. He would always mirror my actions. When I hunched over on a lowly day, he would do the same. When I walked with confidence, standing straight up with arms by my side, he would do the same. He was, in a way someone that I felt attached to. He would not talk if I didn't talk, he seemed to know my moods and mimic them in the mirror. He was a part of me then I treasured, and I was proud to have him as my companion.

My life was near perfect, my job was stable and I was drawing in quite a substantial amount each month. My family was closely knit and we often had meals together despite our busy schedule. My parents had always been a loving couple and they continued to hug and plant kisses on each other's cheeks like two young lovers. My own sister who was married had kids, and I was their favorite uncle. They always looked forward to visits since I always had the gadgets to entertain their childish cravings.

It was all perfect, nothing anyone could ask more of in life. I was satisfied with the way it was, and I didn't think I needed anymore. My company was doing fairly well recently and so the head of staff decided it was time for us to go on a company retreat. My family of course was very happy for me and felt that I too deserved that break. It was to be a trip to Las Vegas, where we could have fun day and night and get high on drinks and smokes.

It was meant to be a good trip. I headed straight for the casino there. I had planned to go there all along, and although I had been warned not to overplay, I shrugged if off. I knew my limits, and besides I had the cash to spend. It was an opportunity in a lifetime seeing as my work schedule was usually hectic. I played Poker, Black Jack and the roulette. As casinos, the main aim for them is to make you lose your money. It always works, and soon enough my stack of chips were getting shorter. It was even more motivation for me to win back what I had lost. So I played on, for hours on end I sat at the tables, watching as my money flew to the grouper. Even after the hours had passed and the casino was emptying in the morning, I still stayed. I had black rings and my eye bags were huge. I was about to fall asleep right there and then out of exhaustion. Luckily one of my co workers was there and he managed to haul me back to the hotel room. I tried to count just how much I had lost, but my mind was over worked from the previous night and I fell asleep.

It looked as if night had fallen when I awoke. I sat up in bed, and rustled my thick brown hair. I was still wearing my T shirt and my jeans were still on. No doubt my card would have been checked for money by now, and I looked through my phone to see just how much had been deducted. My face paled and my heart stopped as my eyes glanced at the numbers. The zeros were overwhelming and I found myself biting my lips so hard they started bleeding.

I looked at the mirror. I was expecting to see my companion that had always been there for me, that had always mirrored my movements and facial expression. Just because the both of us seemed that alike. Instead I saw a man who looked pathetic. He looked a beggar with his torn and tattered clothing. His beard was unshaven and his face looked like he was drunk. He was in a sorry state, and I felt for him. He looked at me with pitiful eyes, like those of a dying man.

“Sorry buddy,” I said. “I got my own problems.”

He looked at me, and then his face hardened. He stared at me with cold, steel eyes that sent shivers down my whole body. It was scary to see the man in the mirror whom I had taken a liking to become like this. Even a man in his state looked down on me. I knew I had made a grave mistake, I should have heeded the advice. During the state which I had been so eager to win, I neglected everything else, and somehow that had caused me to plunge into who I was now. A man who was on the verge of bankruptcy with everything to lose. I felt angry at myself like how the man in the mirror was staring at me. I wanted to badly to punish myself there and then for screwing up so badly. I wanted to slam my face into a wall and pretend that this was all a dream.

The man in the mirror was always there. He was there when I was sad, and there when I was at my lowest moment. He didn't talk if I didn't talk. He seemed to read my mind though and my thoughts. He knew what was running through me at that moment.

He seemed to be me.