There I was, on that winter morning. I had come back from a trip in Italy, and enjoying myself to some brewed coffee in my hometown where I grew up. “Ah, extra sweet. Just how I like it!” I think to myself. There’s nothing more enjoyable than a hot beverage on a cold, snowy day. As I was getting ready to leave the store, I noticed an antique shop outside the window. It was old and beat up, a bit strange but something drew me to it. Almost like a whisper, or a warm invitation, I don’t know what it was or how it came to be but it almost felt as if it were calling out to me. So, I did what the only logical person would do, or at least in my case, semi-logical. I went outside making my way to the antique shop.

A pair of clinging bells chimed as the door opened, and I was greeted by an older lady. Her old smile was charming and the perfume she wore smelled like something my grandmother would wear. She was kind and welcoming. Her name was Anne, and she talked about her interest in collectibles. I took a look around at all the unique items the store had to offer, from the mugs to toys, every antique you could think of was in this shop! I decided to buy myself some suveniuers for Anne, because why not. I had some extra cash to splurge on so might as well spend it on something meaningful. Just as I was exiting the shop, I notice a mirror in the hidden corner of the store. However, it wasn’t your ordinary mirror. I needed to take a closer look to make sure I wasn’t going crazy.

It moved wherever I moved, walked wherever I walked, but the person in the mirror wasn’t me. It wore the same clothes I was wearing, but the man in the mirror had a beard. To be honest, it intrigued me quite a bit, yet everything inside me was telling me to leave. A gut feeling, a guardian angel, whatever you want to call it was saying “Don’t entertain this.” So I listened to it and left.

That event took place nearly 20 years ago, and till this day I still wonder, what could it have been?