IT IS GREAT TO BE ALIVE (STORY)

A stands in the front of the mirror; his reflection is clear at first, but suddenly becomes more and more blurry. He is surprised, and squints his eyes, trying to see his reflection clearly. But the reflection is still hazy. He leaves the room, and comes back with his glasses, and puts on his glasses in front of mirror. He looks to the mirror again, but his reflection is still foggy. He is curious, and moves his head very close to the mirror, but the reflection remains blurry.

He starts to check his reflection in a nearby television screen and in the water of his fish tank. He looks confused, and sits still for a while. Then he decides to give his doctor a call: “I would like to book an appointment to have my eyes checked” he says. While he is turning off the phone, he notices that the shape of his hand in his own view is clear.

He starts to feel terrified; he looks between his hands, which he can see clearly, and the mirror, where his reflection is unclear, over and over again. He touches his face, his arm, his legs… He can feel his touch and see his body, but he cannot find any external evidence that he exists. He goes crazy, touching his body like mad, and then smashing the mirror, the screen, anything that has a reflection.

In the frenzy of smashing, suddenly, a mirror fragment cuts him. He feels the pain, and looks at the blood flow out from his finger. He looks the blood for a while, and then licks his blood. He closes his eyes and tastes it. Finally, he smiles, showing his bloody teeth. “It’s great to be alive,” he says.