by Donald White

Sunlight glinted off the blue water, as Drake dipped his net into it. He bent over, sweat glistening on his skin. He had a muscular physique, with dark hair and eyes. As he leaned down to skim the surface of the water, while gripping the long handle… Jenna let out a sigh. “That pool boy is sooo handsome.” She watched him from inside the house. The woman was small, with a soft, supple frame, and long blond hair.

He turned around, looking right at her.

Jenna’s eyes went wide.

The pool boy smiled, beckoning her with a finger.

She felt moisture between her legs. Jenna stood up shakily, proceeding out to the patio, clad in only her nightshirt. “Uh, hello?”

Drake nodded at her. “Good morning, ma’am.” He gripped the handle tightly.

Jenna glided over to him. “What was your name again?”

He leaned back, still holding the long handle. “Drake, ma’am. Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Jenna giggled. “It’s quite all-right. I had to get up, anyway.” She looked him over. “It must get hot out here, Drake.”

“It does, ma’am.”

She bent over, gripping her knees. “Is there something I can get you… to help cool you off?”

The man grinned. “No, ma’am, I like it hot.”

“So do I,” she smirked, patting him on the rear!

Drake just looked at her. Then, he nodded.

Jenna came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Isn’t there anything better you can think of to do with your stick?”

“It’s a net, ma’am. Not a stick.”

She reached around and fondled him. “I wasn’t talking about that stick, silly boy.”

“Well ma’am,” he chuckled, letting go of the net. “I can think of a few things.” He grabbed the woman and guided her down onto her back.

Jenna softly cooed. “Take me, pool boy. Oh, take me…”

 

“No. No, no, no.” David balled the piece of paper up. “This is stupid.” He tossed it into the trash can. The frustrated writer held his head in his hands. “It’s not working. It’s just not working.” David was unshaven and unkempt. Clothes were scattered on the floor of his apartment. He wore a short-sleeved shirt, which used to be white. The yellow of his teeth matched the yellowish stains on his walls, from all the smoking he did. David pulled himself up out of the chair.

His apartment consisted of just one bedroom, and a moderate-sized living/dining area. David walked over to the refrigerator, scratching himself with one hand. He opened the door, and pulled out a can of beer, popping it open and drinking as much of it as he could in one swallow. Then, he let out a long, satisfied belch. “Ahhh…” He held the can to his forehead, feeling the coolness. “Did I ever tell you, you’re my best friend?” He grabbed a bag of potato chips and started to eat.

For several moments, David stood there eating and drinking, mulling over his problems. “Nobody’s going to fall for this one. The old pool boy routine. I can’t believe I’m even thinking of using that.” He scratched his scraggly beard, getting a finger stuck in it. Annoyed, he yanked it free, yelping in pain. David just shook his head. “You’re losing it, man. You’ve got nothing.” He thought about pulling out some “reference material.” David walked over to the video rack. “Maybe the one with the twins and the cable guy might help.”

He put in the video, grabbed the remote, and plopped down on the recliner. A roach crawled across the arm rest, and he knocked it to the floor. David pointed the remote control at the television, and turned it on. Then, he pushed play to start the tape. He watched for a few minutes, until his weary eyes could take no more and he fell asleep.

 

David opened his eyes and stared at the television. The movie was over. “Damn. I couldn’t even stay awake.” He sighed heavily, yawning and stretching. “What do I do now? No good ideas mean no story. All that work to finally get published and now I can’t come up with anything.” He struggled to get to his feet, and stooped to pick up the fallen beer can. “Sorry, buddy. I completely forgot about you.” He glanced over at the clock. “Damn, two-thirty in the morning.” He scratched his head vigorously. “That chair must have been dipped in chloroform. I can’t sit down in it, without going out.”

Stumbling into the darkened bedroom, he collapsed on the bed. “Think, man. Think! You’re a writer. You can make a story out of anything.” It had been so easy before. Write a few pages, add a twist or two, and you had a little story. Send it away to several magazines, and then wait for the rejection letters to come rolling in. But eventually, he got published. And then, he got published again. None of those works had been of the erotic type, but right now, he needed a change: something fresh, something new.

But nothing would work. “Schoolgirls? It’s been done. Nurses? Done. French maids? Done way too much!” He had tried to use the old “lonely housewife” gimmick. But erotica turned out to be harder to write than it seemed. “Man, what am I going to do?” David lay, staring at the full-length mirror on the wall. He chuckled to himself, thinking about how it was the cleanest thing in his apartment. “I need a maid. Maybe one of those cute little ones, dressed in a little french maid outfit?” David gargled a chuckle, staring up at the ceiling. “Sure it’s been done… but never to me!” He shook his head… noticing something out of the corner of his eye.

David grew still, feeling a chill. “You saw something, man. You know you did.” He doubted, “I didn’t see anything.”

From right beside him, a light, feminine voice spoke. “David? David?”

He turned, but there was no one there.

The voice spoke again. “David? Daaavid?”

Her tone was soft and sweet, but it sent shivers up his spine. David could feel someone staring at him… but from where? He trembled: the mirror.

“Daaavid? Please look at me, David.”

He didn’t want to. Every fiber in his being, told him not to. “This isn’t real, man. You’re just having a bad dream.” But slowly, he turned his head to the side, and looked into the mirror. Even in the darkness of the room, he could make out the face of a woman in the reflection behind him!

David rolled onto the floor. He jumped to his feet, and switched on the light. Then, he stared into the mirror.

In the reflection, he saw a woman on the bed behind him. “There you are, David.”

He blinked his eyes… but she was still there.

The woman winked at him. “Lie with me, David.”

He turned around, but there was no one on the bed. But he could feel someone… or something else in the room with him. “It’s just a dream. Man, it’s got to be a dream. I’m asleep. Yeah, that’s it.”

“David? Don’t you like me, David?”

He glanced over at the mirror once again. The woman was beautiful, with long, blond hair, and the most piercing blue eyes he had ever seen. She was wrapped up in the bed sheet, and was smiling at him. “What the hell is going on here?”

“David? Are you all-right, David?”

He just stared at her haunting beauty, replying through quivering lips “Yeah. Sure. But who are you?”

“My name is Melanie. I came here for you, David.”

“Oh, man. Uh, hey there!” He jerked his head around, but saw no one.

“Over here, silly.”

David looked at the mirror, and Melanie was beaming back at him. “Uh, sorry honey… I mean, Melanie… I mean, what do you want me to call you?”

“Call me anything you like, David.” She pursed her lips.

He closed his eyes, standing there for a moment. “I’ve lost it. My mind is gone. I look in the mirror, and I see a girl. I look at the bed, and nobody’s there! This has got to be a dream. This has really got to be a dream.” A grin slowly overtook his features. “If this is a dream, then I can do what I want… me and her. After all, she really seems to like me. Sure, baby. Let’s have some fun.” He opened his eyes, looking into the mirror. “So Melanie, what brings a pretty girl like you to a place like this?”

“I came for you, David.” She patted the bed. “Lie with me. Please?”

The grin on his face widened. “Sure baby, anything for you.” He lay down on the bed, feeling something lying next to him. He thought, “Man, this is kinky.” David felt something on his chest. He looked at the mirror, and saw Melanie’s arm resting on him. Inside, he was yelling “This is the best dream ever!” The man stared at her reflection.

“Hey baby, how about a kiss?”

Melanie drew back. “No, David.”

He was perplexed, “But why?”

“Because, silly, your teeth are yellow. Your breath smells. Your facial hair is unkempt. When was the last time you bathed?”

David chagrined, “When did my mother enter this dream?” Then, he gave a look of disgust at the realization of what he had just imagined. “Melanie?”

“No, David. Not until you’re clean.”

“But baby…”

“You can lie with me, David. But that is all you can do, until you take care of yourself.”

He frowned, wondering, “What kind of a dream girl did I get stuck with anyway?” He rolled out of bed, and gazed at her reflection.

Melanie looked away, crossing her arms in front of her.

David stumbled into the bathroom. “Some dream. I have to take a bath before I can have any fun!” He shut the door.

 

2.

 

He opened his eyes, thinking, “That was the best dream I’ve ever had!” David turned his head slowly to the side. “Never before has a dream girl done…” He looked into the mirror. Though the reflection was his own, he noticed something that filled him with dread. “I’m clean-shaven? How did that…?”

David’s eyes went wide, as he realized the shower was running in the bathroom. “I guess I must have left it on.” He tasted something in his mouth. “Mint flavor? What the hell?” David shivered and shook on the bed, as the water continued to run. “Somebody broke in last night. Yeah, that’s it. They got some grease on them, and had to take a shower.” David bit his lip. Even he did not believe that one. The man froze in place, not knowing what to do. He knew somebody was in his bathroom. David was filled with both curiosity and apprehension. “Man, what’s going on here?” He closed his eyes. “Maybe I’m still dreaming.”

The sound of running water ceased.

David trembled all the more. “I’m guessing this isn’t the pleasant part of the dream.” He heard noises in the bathroom. His imagination went wild. “That sounded like a foot being placed on the floor. That sounds like a towel being pulled from the rack. There’s some kind of rubbing sound.” And then, silence. He closed his eyes, turning away from the door. “You’re losing it, man. There’s nobody in there. This is a dream… just a dream.” He felt a slight patch of moisture underneath him. David sighed fearfully. “I guess that means this is a special dream.”

The knob on the bathroom door started to turn.

David’s eyes shot open. “Oh, shit.” He heard a soft padding on the floor, and glanced down. There on the tiles were patches of moisture, resembling human footprints. He jerked his head toward the mirror, seeing someone else’s reflection standing next to the bed! “Oh, shit!”

“David? Calm down, David, it’s just me. Melanie.”

“Oh! Uh, good… good… morning?”

She leaned closer. “Good morning, David.”

He fell back against the pillow, feeling something pressing against his lips! Inside, he screamed, “Holy shit! I’m kissing a ghost!” The pressure on his mouth was gone.  David could feel something brushing against his front. He looked into the mirror, and saw Melanie lying next to him. He thought, “This is the part of the dream, where you wake up in a cold sweat, struggling to catch your breath.”

“David? Is something wrong, David?”

“Uh… no, honey. I’m… fine. You just startled me. That’s all.”

David felt suction against his cheek and then, it was gone. “Sorry David, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Chaotic thoughts raced through his mind. “Oh, shit. I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve never had a dream like this. What did I eat last night? Is it the stress? Am I really losing it? What the hell is going on here?!” He forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Melanie. I’m not afraid.” He could feel something leaning against him. David glanced over at the mirror, seeing that it was the woman’s head resting against his shoulder. Then, he felt and saw her arm, draping over his stomach.

There was a soft, cooing sound. “I like you, David.”

“Uh… thanks?”

“Do you like me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

There was a giggle. “David, why are you so nervous? After what we did last night…”

He shuddered, remembering what they had done last night. “Well, it’s just that… honey, you’re so beautiful. And I’m just a little bit surprised that you are even interested in… well, me.”

He heard a sigh. “I like you, David. You can’t decide who you like.” He felt something rubbing against his shoulder. “You just know you like them.”

“But Melanie… you just showed up in my room last night. Isn’t that kind of strange?”

“I’m sorry, David. Are you mad at me?”

“Uh… no… of course not, honey. I’m just a little confused.”

The pressure against his shoulder was removed.

David felt his head being pressed forward. “Melanie? Honey, what are you doing?”

“Just relax, David.”

He could feel rubbing against his shoulders. David stared into the mirror.

Melanie was behind him, rubbing and caressing his shoulders. She smiled.

“You’re giving me a massage?”

“Of course, silly. Now, relax. Let me take care of you.”

David just sat there, basking in the warmth and softness of her touch. He thought, “She’s good… really good. If only she were real…” He sighed deeply. “Damn, I think I like this.”

 

3.

 

Later: The cashier peered over the counter and into the shopping cart. “Well, sir. You seem to have a thing for mirrors.”

David looked away. “Yeah, I’m uh… redecorating my apartment. I figured it might brighten the place up a bit.”

The girl behind the register nodded. She gestured for the man to hand her the first mirror, and then carefully rung it up.

David handed her mirror after mirror thinking, “What am I doing? Filling my apartment with mirrors? With all the crap all over the place, it will look like some bad side show exhibit!”

The cashier spoke again, giving him the total.

David handed her the money.

She glanced over at him. “Sir, you look familiar. Do you shop here often?”

“Uh yeah, I do.”

She grinned. “I know. You used to have a beard. And your clothes are… different.”

David blushed, thinking “She probably remembers me looking like I just came out of the soup kitchen.” He chuckled to himself, thinking just how easy it would have been to confuse him with a homeless guy. He just smiled at her.

The cashier handed him the receipt. “Well, enjoy your mirrors, sir.”

“Thanks. I will.”

 

4.

 

David carried the mirrors carefully into his apartment. “Uh, I’m home!” For a moment, David just stood there, thinking, “There’s no one in here but you, man: you and your fractured mind.”

A soft, feminine voice responded, “I’m in the bedroom, David.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, trembling slightly, “I can’t believe this. I’m actually happy that my ghost girl is still here! I really am losing it.”

David heard the sound of light footsteps coming towards him. Then, he felt suction against his lips. “Ooh, David. What did you buy?”

“Just a few things for the apartment, honey.” He pulled one of the mirrors out, and held it up in front of him. He saw her reflection standing next to his. She was clothed in a short-sleeved blouse and a skirt. “Where did you get that?”

“Get what, David?”

“The outfit.”

“Well, I can’t very well strut around naked all the time.” She rolled her eyes at him, “Men and their dirty minds.” She gestured at the floor all around. “Almost as dirty as the places they live.”

David bowed his head, placing the mirror to the side. He realized, “She wants me to clean. This IS my mother!” He pulled out a cigarette.

“David!”

“What?”

“Those things are disgusting. They make you cough and give you nasty breath.”

“Sorry, honey. Love me, love my habit.” He chuckled.

“Well, you’re not going to kiss me with breath like that. At least, open a window or go outside so I won’t have to breathe it with you.”

David sighed. “Sure honey, whatever you say.” He snatched his lighter, opened the door and stepped outside, thinking, “This ghost girl is getting way too real for my tastes.” He shut the door.

 

5.

 

A few weeks went by. David cleaned up the apartment. He maintained good hygiene. He drank less, and only smoked outside. Having attempted to write several times, he wound up frustrated and confused. “Why can’t I come up with anything? What’s the damn problem?” Instinctively, he reached for his cigarettes.

“David?”

He glanced into one of the many mirrors on the wall, noticing that Melanie had entered the room. “What is it, honey?”

“Are you all-right, David? You sounded upset.”

He leaned forward, holding his face in his hands. “It’s nothing, honey. I just can’t come up with anything to write about.”

David felt something rubbing against his shoulders. “I have an idea, David. Why not write about us?”

“Us?” He shifted nervously.

“Yes, David. Write about our love.”

“Well. I… I… I just don’t know.”

The rubbing stopped.

David grew concerned. “Melanie? Honey?”

“Yes, David?”

“Are you mad?”

“No. I’m just disappointed. You said you wanted to write about sexual things. What we have is sexual, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah, I guess so. But… how could I write about it? Wouldn’t it embarrass you?”

The rubbing renewed. “David, I love you. I’m not embarrassed about our love.”

He chagrined. Deep down inside, the man pondered his own insecurity. He was real. She was… not… at least not entirely. How could they be in love in the first place? “But honey, in order to write about our love, I would have to include details… intimate details.”

The rubbing ceased, and he glanced over at the mirror to watch her rest her hands on his shoulders. “David, I was just thinking that your difficulty in writing is that you’re trying to write about relationships that aren’t real. I felt that our relationship might serve as inspiration to you. That’s all.”

He instinctively reached for one of her hands. “I’m sorry, Melanie. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“David? Are you afraid of writing about us?”

“No. Of course not, honey. It’s just that…” He struggled to come up with an excuse. “I just think that it might be a little bit… embarrassing.” The realization of what he had said hit him. “I mean…”

The physical contact was gone. “I embarrass you?”

“No honey, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what DID you really mean, David?”

“I just meant that… you know, revealing my feelings…”

Silence filled the room.

“Melanie? Honey?”

He looked over at the mirror, but she was gone.

“Melanie? Melanie?! Please, come back. Please… I love you, baby. Don’t leave me.” He jumped out of his chair and searched every mirror for her reflection. But she was gone. “No! Damn it! No!!!” The man lashed out with a fist, hearing a cracking sound. David pulled back his bleeding hand, noticing the breaks in the mirror. He fell back, and collapsed on the floor, sobbing. “Melanie? Melanie? Come back. Please. Please, don’t leave me…” But the only voice he could hear… was his own.

 

6.

A few days later, David was sitting in a bar. He held his glass tightly. His face was covered with stubble. He had showered and groomed only for the sake of decency. He had needed to get out of the apartment. It was far too quiet in there. “Bartender, bring me a bottle.”

The bartender walked over, and leaned against the counter. “Buddy, I think you’ve had enough for one night.”

“How about just one more glass?”

The guy behind the counter shook his head. “If you’re ready to go, I can call you a cab.”

David slurred, “Call me anything you like. But just give me one more. Please?”

The bartender chuckled. “Finish the one you’ve got. And then, I’ll arrange for a ride to bring you home.”

David shook his head. “You don’t understand, man. You just don’t understand.”

“Maybe I don’t. But I know how to listen… if you’ve got something to say.”

The frustrated writer hung his head. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. It… it’s all about… this girl…”

Another chuckle came from the bartender. “Buddy, I think it’s always about a girl. So, tell me. What’s her name?”

“Melanie. Her name is Melanie, and she’s beautiful, man. She’s everything I ever dreamed of.” He snickered. “Why you could say that she’s the girl of my dreams!”

The bartender smiled. “She sounds like she’s special to you. So, what happened?”

“I… I… don’t know. We were just talking…”

“And you said something you shouldn’t have, right?”

David shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what it was.”

“Buddy, you may never know. But that’s not important. What you said. What she said. It’s all irrelevant.” He looked right into the drunken man’s eyes. “If you love her, you’ll do something to make it right. And if you don’t love her… then she’s not for you, anyway. Now, you have to decide. Do you love her?”

“I… I… yeah, I guess I do. I can’t imagine a day without seeing her face. I don’t know if I could ever look into a mirror again if she wasn’t there.”

The bartender gave a slight look of confusion. “Well, yeah. I guess that’s one way to put it. Not the way I would have said it, but… Listen, buddy. It’s obvious you like this girl.” He stood up straight. “I think you know what to do.”

David tried to nod his head, but it ended up just wobbling up and down.

The guy behind the bar picked up the phone. “Buddy, I think you’re about ready for that cab.”

 

7.

 

The next night, David was sitting in a dance club, drinking. “She’s gone.” He could feel the pounding beat of the drums and hear the loudness of the music. Earlier that day, his hangover had subsided, and he vaguely remembered his conversation with the bartender. “How can I make it right? I can’t even find her.” He had thought about going back to the bar, but decided against it. “That guy would have asked me what happened. And what could I tell him?” David took another sip of his drink. “Now, what do I do?”

“Hey, there!”

He looked up. Before him, there stood a bright-eyed brunette. “Uh, hello.”

She grinned. “You looked kind of lonely sitting here all by yourself. My name’s Becky.”

“Hi. I’m, uh… David. My name is David.” He knew that he hadn’t been drinking that much tonight. She was real. She had to be. A real, live sexy creature was talking to him!

“So David, are you all alone?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Kind of.”

Becky looked from one side to the other. “She left, didn’t she?”

“Yeah” he chuckled. “You could say that.”

Becky giggled, “Her loss. Say, can you dance?”

David tittered. “Define the term ‘dance.’”

She tugged on his arm. “Just do your best, David.”

He thought to himself. “My best resembles a fit of convulsions.” Then, he nodded. “Sure, why not?”

Becky laughed, pulling him towards the dance floor.

 

Later, Becky and David sat at the bar, telling stories and laughing. The woman let out an unladylike snort.

He looked at her strangely. “What was that?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so carried away.”

The man shrugged. “It’s all-right. Actually, I think it’s kind of cute.”

Now, she was the one staring at him, confused. “Cute?”

“Yeah, just like a little piglet.”

Becky put her hands on her hips. “Did you just call me a pig?”

David held up his hands. “No. I said you sounded like a cute, little piglet.”

She picked up her glass. “I don’t know whether to laugh, or to dump this over your head.”

He just stared at her.

Becky laughed. “You’re funny, David. Did you know that?”

“Well, I know I’m still dry,” he chortled.

She giggled and grabbed the glass, holding it over his head.

David caught her wrist. “Now, now, don’t even think about it.”

For a few moments, she tried to release his grip and dump the drink on him. David struggled to keep the glass upright.

Unexpectedly, Becky leaned forward and kissed him on the lips!

Stunned, he released her.

Becky lowered the glass, and sat it back down on the table. “Now David, you said you were a writer. What kind of stories do you write?”

“Oh, a little of everything, I guess. Some drama, some science fiction, some mystery…”

“Ooh, I’ve always loved a good mystery.”

He took a sip of his drink. “Mystery is fun. But it’s tricky to keep the audience from figuring things out too soon.”

Becky grinned. “Well, I always keep an eye on the butler.”

David frowned. “You know, it’s a common misconception that the butler is the murderer. Why, I’ve never even used that one. Now, maybe the maid…”

She gave him a disapproving look. “The maid?”

“You know women; they’ve got those shifty eyes.”

“David!” She playfully slapped his hand.

“Hey,” he laughed. “I’m just telling the truth. Women are sneaky creatures.”

Becky pouted. “Yeah, well just try to get a straight answer from a guy. It’s impossible.”

“Hey, now wait a minute. Just how did a discussion about mysteries devolve into a battle of the sexes?”

She held up a fist, “When you drew first blood.”

He chuckled. “Okay. Okay. I take it back. Women are wonderful.”

She shook her head. “Not good enough.”

“Women are the greatest.”

Becky stared at him. “How about ‘men couldn’t survive without women’?”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

She grinned once more. “So David, how far would you go?”

“What?”

Becky stood up and stretched. “I’m feeling kind of tired. We should get some sleep.”

“Yeah.” He finished his glass and stood. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Becky.”

“Hold on, David. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Uh, home?”

She grabbed him by the arm. “That sounds like a great idea.”

 

8.

 

All was peaceful and quiet in David’s apartment. He lay next to Becky, watching as she slept, thinking, “You were incredible. I just can’t believe this is actually happening. A real woman…” An image of Melanie flashed in his mind. David struggled to rid himself of the offending thought. “Cool it, man. You’re in bed with a real, live girl now. You don’t need to be thinking about… her.” David rolled over onto his back, just staring up at the ceiling. He wondered, “Why? Why can’t I just concentrate on Becky? She’s a nice girl. Maybe a bit wild, but she’s a lot of fun. Damn it, man. Come back to reality. Melanie isn’t real. She doesn’t exist. She…”

“David?” A soft feminine voice could be heard in the dark of the room.

He swallowed hard. “It’s nothing. It’s just the wind.” But the windows were closed. “Damn it, Dave. Stop doing this. Stop it. Just stop.”

“David?”

He clenched his eyes shut, assuring himself. “This isn’t real. It can’t be real. Maybe I’m dreaming again.”

Then, in a hoarse whisper, he heard, “Daaaviiiid.”

His eyes shot open. He could feel something in the room nearby. “Oh, shit.” Slowly, he turned his head, and glanced over at the mirror. There, in the darkness of his bedroom, was the face of a woman staring back at him!

“Melanie,” he pleaded. He noted malevolence in her tone. “Uh, hi honey.”

She pointed an accusing finger at the sleeping woman. “Who’s your friend, David?”

Reflected in the moonlight, the man could make out crimson dripping from her eyes, and rolling down her cheeks!

David froze in place.

Melanie stepped towards him. “Tell me, David. Tell me who she is.”

“Uh, uh,” he subconsciously scooted closer to Becky. “Listen, Melanie. It’s not what you think.”

Her voice was a gasping whisper, “Then what, pray tell is it David?”

“Melanie, honey, you… left. I didn’t even know if you were going to come back. I went to a club. She saw me…” He lay mesmerized by her bleeding eyes.

She wiped the blood away, and her soft feminine voice returned. “I love you, David. I really do. But you’ve hurt me. I can’t trust you anymore.”

There was a knot growing in his stomach. He remembered the bartender’s words. “Melanie? Honey? How can I make it right?”

She stared right at him. “You want to make it right?”

“Yeah, honey. I do.”

Melanie pointed a finger at the other person in the bed. “Then, get rid of her.”

“Okay, baby. Sure. I’ll ask her to leave first thing in the morning.”

Her voice was menacing once more. “No, David. I didn’t ask you to send her home.”

Realization hit him, and he shook with fright. “No. Baby, you can’t be serious about this.”

Melanie nodded her head slowly.

David’s eyes shot over at Becky. She was beautiful, even in the midst of sleep. He thought about the good time they had at the club. And about what had happened afterward… David shook his head violently. “I can’t do it, Melanie. I just can’t.”

Her voice was shrill and loud. “I knew it! You don’t love me! You love her! Admit it, David.”

“Easy. Calm down, honey.” He wondered how Becky could still be asleep. “Please, Melanie. I love you.”

“David, you asked me how to make it right. You know what to do.”

He raised his trembling hands before his face, thinking, “I can’t do this. I just can’t do this.” David reached over, placing his fingers on Becky’s neck.

She shifted slightly, but remained asleep.

“Please, Melanie. Don’t ask me to do this.”

“Make it right, David. Make it right for us…”

Before he could stop himself, he wrapped his hands around Becky’s throat and started to squeeze.

She jerked involuntarily, then she gagged, and her eyes shot open!

David tightened his grip.

Becky began to thrash about.

The man could hear the most hideous laughter coming from behind him.

Becky gasped for air, sinking her nails into his wrists.

“Ahhh! Let go, bitch. Damn it, let go!”

In a last desperate attempt to free herself, Becky twisted hard, pulling them both out of the bed and onto the floor.

David held on, squeezing tighter.

Struggling violently, she managed a clumsy kick between his legs.

The man released her, moaning in pain.

Becky coughed and gasped, stumbling out of the room.

David crawled after her. “Becky…”

She saw him emerge in the doorway and screeched, “Get away from me, you sick freak!” She turned the lock on the front door, releasing the bolt. Yanking the door open, she disappeared into the night.

“Damn it,” he groaned. “She’s gone.”

He could feel someone beside him. “It’s all-right, David. I’m still here.”

“Let go of me.” He pushed away from her.

“David?”

“Bitch, I said leave me alone!”

He heard a mocking giggle. “I can’t do that, David. I love you.” He could feel her next to his face. “And now, I know you love me.”

He looked down at the scrape marks on his wrists. “No. No. No. No! No! Nooo!” He staggered into the bedroom and yanked open the dresser drawer.

“David? David, what are you doing?”

The man emerged, holding a pistol in his hands. “Get out of here, bitch. Get out of here, now!”

Melanie giggled, “Really, David.”

Gunshots rang out. Melanie’s reflection shattered. Now, she was laughing. “Foolish love, you can’t get rid of me so easily. I’m inside you, now.”

“Die, bitch! Damn it. Die!” He howled furiously, firing at her reflection wherever he saw it. He quickly reloaded, and fired again and again… until he heard a hollow click.

Her voice was back. “Now, was that really necessary?”

The man dropped the gun, and clawed at his own hair, pleading, “Just go, bitch. Just go away.” David sunk to his knees.

He felt his arm being grabbed. “My love, you dropped something.”

David’s fingers closed around a small, hard object. “A bullet?”

Something was rubbing against his head. “I want us to be together, David. I know you want that, too. Come with me.”

He felt himself pulled along into the bedroom. The man switched on the light, and stared at their two reflections in one of the few remaining mirrors.

More blood was dripping from the corners of Melanie’s eyes. “We’ll be together, David, just you and me.”

Mindlessly, he loaded the bullet into his pistol. “I love you, Melanie.”

“I love you too, David.” She smiled back at him.

He watched as she wrapped her small hand around his, pointing the gun barrel at the underside of his chin. David shook with fright.

“Don’t worry, David. Now, we can be together… forever.”

A gunshot rang out.

 

A few minutes later, police officers entered the apartment. They noted the broken mirrors all around them. Then, they ventured into the bedroom. There, a man lay unmoving on the bed, a pistol still gripped in his hand. A gory wound was under his chin. But one of the officers noticed the eyes… whose lifeless gaze still seemed to be staring into the mirror.

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