Transparent Color's

My eyes flutter, and a bright light causes me to close them again and turn my head. I bring my hand to my face and feel a bandage on my forehead. My eyes immediately open up, and I am now aware that I am lying on a hospital bed.

ALIVE!

Despite the throbbing of my head, I push myself up in a seated position. I look around the white room, and what I see is an open closet with an outfit hanging to my one side. On the other side of me are a chair, that looks like someone has been sitting on it, and a window next to it. On the wall straight across from the chair, is a mirror.

I lay my head back down on the pillow. How did we win? Or did we? I scratch my head out of confusion. The last thing I remember are Maliki, Ora, Oscar, and about ten others being pinned up on the wall; Vichor getting shot, Jo-Shana taking a shot, and my head getting slammed into the wall. I faintly remember the back of Toby’s head and the sound of guns being fired, but that’s it. What could have happened to lead me here? We must have won, or I would be dead, right? My mind is confused and I don’t know what to think.

I’m tired of lying in this bed of confusion, so I force my weak body up and out. I need questions answered; I need to find out if anyone else survived with me. If Toby is back to himself? Or if this is all one big horrible dream? Tears start forming in my eyes but I blink them away. I reach inside the closet and take out the dress hanging there. It is a pretty purple and white dress, unusual though. I think why my only choice of clothes would be a nice dress like this. I wonder if there is some expectation of me going somewhere. From the looks of the dress, it must be somewhere formal, or at least a party. But what am I celebrating?

I unbutton the back buttons and slip the dress over my head. I button starting with the bottom up, when I get to the fifth and last button, I cannot button it. I don’t know if it’s the location where it’s at, or if the hole to put the button through is too small, but frustration is creeping up me. I move irately to the mirror, and turn my back so the hole and button is reflecting back to me. I still can’t get it. I throw my arms to my sides and turn facing the mirror.

I stare at myself for a few seconds, observing my bandaged head, and bruised arms and legs. But clean, from head to toe, I’m absolutely spotless. I get a whiff of a flowery aroma coming off my hair. It causes me to close my eyes, and from the scent, I start to reminisce on my days at the south City, the flowers, my family, and friends I knew, and now have made. I then start to think about the evil I have conquered within myself, and the evils still to conquer. I open my eyes and look at myself again in the mirror. The ironic thing is, it happens to be a body length mirror. Just like the one in the Supply store, the one in the book in the Majestic’s room I slept in, the one in my room in the yellow house, and the one in Toby’s room; all resembling the one my mother had.

‘Little things to remind you of who you are’, my good friend Ora once said to me, and I get it now.

I examine myself, and clarity comes to my mind. I now know my reflection this time is different. I see more courage, wisdom, understanding, and beauty. The delusion of dream from reality has faded. I can see now what is in front of me. I now know what I want and need. I can somehow feel a calming peace, a reassurance that everything is okay now.

I slowly bring my hand to the grin on my face, and then I see through the reflection of the mirror the door opening and Maliki walks in. As the door slowly closes, I see a freckle faced boy smiling in the hall.

My watery eyes stare at his reflection in the mirror, and then the door shuts. I glance back at Maliki and as he approaches he has a look of victory. I bring my arms down to my sides and my head slightly up, to look strong, just like the pink flower on my windowsill. He stands behind me and gently moves his hands to the loose button, and buttons it.

I guess he too knows what I want, and… what I need.