1. Reflection

Bella looked at the mirror which reflected the exactly same image as the original. The shadow was true is Bella but not really her. Now she who was in the mirror showed her true face, a sly smile etched on the corners of her lips. With Bella's face and voice she spoke.

"How dare you talk to your sweet sister like that. Maybe now she's crying quietly alone." The shadow laughed.

“She must be disappointed to have a sister like you, just as Father didn't expect you! And Mother? Let me see... Twice you were unconscious but where is she? Bella, I really feel sorry for you, Bella.."

The one who looked like Bella said. "But it's okay. Why? Because I'm here. I will be with you. Always with you.”

She continued. "You don't like me? It is not good. You can't be like that to me because I hold your weakness."

“You always act nonchalantly like you don't care about anything. But if that's the case, you shouldn't have to study hard to defend the title as a top student  right?”

Bella wanted to reply to the words of her reflection in the mirror but Bella's voice was difficult and heavy to say.

"Exactly! I was absolutely right." She who was in the mirror kept talking, sounding more and more excited.

"Oh right, I knew you would say that because you promised Mother!"

“Yes, because of that promise you became like this. If that promise never existed, you could act however you want, carefree, without feeling restricted like Jennie." She paused for a moment, silent. Before then continue.

“But you know, I think otherwise... Even if that promise doesn't exist even once, you'll still try your hardest to be a good girl. Trying to attract attention, hoping that Mom will look at you.”

“But, haha... Even if you do all that, no one will see you, nothing has changed! You're still here alone!!”

"Enough." Shouted Bella.

"Yeah, I was right again..."

“I said enough!!” That face, that smile... Bella didn't want to see it.

"Why don't you just stop, your efforts are in vain..."

“ENOUGH I SAID!!!”

Bella gasped when she woke up. The breath was loud. "That dream again..."

Bella must be crazy. For days she did not sleep to avoid it. Only to escape her other self in imagination, in dreams.

"No!! You must be just tired, Bella. Yes... Definitely so.." Bella muttered to herself

Bella looked at the clock which showed 11:18 at night. On the table was a memo that Aunt had left, written:

Sorry, Auntie can't accompany you.

Auntie make soup, don't forget

warmed up before eating.

Aunty.

Bella came out of the room and went downstairs. She looked at her mother's room, the light was still on. She entered the room. Again Mother fell asleep without changing clothes. Bella put a blanket on Mom, turned off the light, and walked out of the room.

On the dining table is Aunt's soup, it's cold. Bella decided to eat it tomorrow morning. Even today she wakes up at night, it feels like Bella's day and nightlife are changing.

Bella returned to the room. There was nothing she did. Just lying in bed with thoughts running through her mind. Bella wanted to be able to sleep soundly without worrying about her dreams. Should she find the way? There must be a way.

Bella looks for related information using her cellphone. Several reviews appear on the screen. “With sleeping pills or something? Must I have a doctor's prescription to get it?!”

Bella felt uncomfortable when she had to see a doctor, let alone explain the situation. Explains that the image of herself chasing in a dream makes it difficult for her to sleep comfortably. How to explain it all, what the doctor will think later. She would never take that road, see a doctor.

Bella stared blankly at the ceiling. Bella's mind was tired of searching for an easy and safe way to solve her dream problem. Slowly she felt her eyelids starting to feel heavy. Bella yawned so wide that her eyes watered. It seemed that this time she would be able to sleep soundly without dreaming of anything.

***

For the umpteenth time one morning, Bella woke up early. More precisely, she couldn't sleep after waking up from a bad dream. The whole body is flooded with sweat, weak and powerless.

With a very pale face, Bella's head was spinning, and her eyes were blurry. She washed her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Bella felt so tired, tired of everything. She was still dreaming even though she had taken medicine to help her sleep soundly. It seemed the deeper she slept the clearer the dream came to chase her. She was scared, so scared until she wanted to run away. Because in the dream Bella realizes that she has no control over the situation that is happening.

She, the shadow figure is no longer just Bella's imagination. Nor is it only present in dreams. She was the real one, real in Bella's mind. Another part of her. This wasn't just a simple dream, she couldn't run away from her anymore.

Bella can see through this mirror, she is the one in mind living inside Bella. With a sly smile, she looked at her with these eyes. Talked to her about things Bella couldn't say, or did. With thoughts that she tried to throw away.

Bella said in her mind. In her reflection in the mirror. It was as if there was someone other than her in those eyes. "Because of you I said cruel and hurt Jennie."

“You were the one who went berserk and hurt my hand. You've messed me up, that's enough!” Bella clenched her fists tightly.

"I don't want to be controlled by you. I don't want Mom and Jennie to leave me too. I will not allow it.”

"If I die you will die too. That way you won't be able to control me anymore." Bella whispered in front of the mirror that reflected her reflection.

“Don't smile like that at me! I'm sick of seeing you!! With this, it will all end.”

In an instant, everything happened fast. The razor blade was in Bella's hand. With one incision deep enough in the wrist, right through Bella's veins. In an instant the blood flowed, dripping on the floor.

In an unstable self-consciousness, one thing crossed her mind. "Is this enough to kill me? Death should be more terrible than this."

Bella didn't feel scared, all she felt was the cold creeping very fast and her heart feeling empty. Bella's body was losing balance, her vision was getting darker. Auntie's face faintly disappeared and then it darkened completely.

***

It was time to go to school but Bella didn't come down for breakfast. Aunt waited for a long and breakfast started to cool down. Lately, Aunt knows Bella's condition is not healthy but she never wants to be invited to see a doctor. Since she was young, Bella didn't like doctors or hospitals.

This morning felt like a normal morning, a peaceful morning with warm sunshine. But for some reason, Auntie kept feeling restless. The anxiety was getting bigger because Bella who was she waiting for was not seen. Unable to stand the growing anxiety, Aunt decided to go upstairs to find her in the room.

Somehow the hunch was never wrong. Aunt had been worried about watching Bella these past few days. Not an obvious difference in behavior, but from the look on Bella's face and eyes.

It wasn't Bella's habit to talk about her worries, Aunt knew that. But these few days she is more quiet than usual, Bella is so deep in her thoughts that she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings. Always left food, locked herself in her room a lot, and didn't talk at all when she was with Aunt. It seemed that Bella didn't sleep well and often woke up in the middle of the night. That's what happened at home as far as Aunt could tell.

Aunt was already thinking badly when she saw Bella's entire room was falling apart. When Aunt looked into the bathroom looking for her, Aunt found Bella frozen in silence with fresh blood running down her wrist. Fresh blood continued to flow splattered on the floor.

It's not the state of the room that matters right now. Feeling like being stung by lightning in the morning, Aunt barely caught Bella's body which was now in her arms. Auntie trembled at the deep cut on Bella's wrist and the fresh blood flowing. The blood was rushing so much that Auntie's face was turning pale as if she had lost a lot of blood.

Aunt screamed for help but no one was in the house except her and Bella who was unconscious. Aunt didn't want to leave Bella alone in this state. But the longer time goes by, the more time is wasted in this state of crisis. With a heavy heart, Aunt laid Bella's body, leaving her to call for help. Auntie's legs felt weak, her eyes were blocked with welling tears.