Chapter 7: The Gaze
"Leticia, someone is watching us." — Aya's voice echoed in her mind as she stared at the mirror, seeing the shadow behind the door.
"I see it too." — Leticia replied.
She held her breath, freezing for a moment. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to make out who was watching her through the mirror's reflection. But after a moment, recognition washed over her, and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
Leticia slowly turned around—
And there, peeking nervously from behind the door, stood Clara—her younger sister.
The girl timidly clutched the hem of her dress, her large light hazel eyes with a golden hue filled with hesitation. Curls of chestnut hair framed her round face, and a faint blush made her seem even more delicate.
Clara looked fragile, but in her posture was the tension of a small animal—ready to run at any second. Her fingers fidgeted anxiously with the fabric of her simple cotton dress, and her lips pressed together as if she were unsure whether to speak.
— "Clara?" — Leticia asked carefully.
The girl flinched and ducked behind the door for a moment, but then, hesitantly, stepped forward, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
— "I… I just wanted to see if you were okay," — she murmured, lowering her gaze. — "You… you were talking to yourself."
Leticia frowned. Of course, from the outside, it must have looked strange. She took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for Clara to come closer.
— "I'm fine, I was just… trying to figure something out," — Leticia said carefully. — "Were you worried about me?"
Clara nodded slowly.
— "Mom said you weren't feeling well," — her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried genuine concern. — "But I heard you… talking. To the mirror."
A chill ran down Leticia's spine.
"What exactly did she see?"
— "And what did you see?" — Leticia asked, glancing at the mirror.
Clara hesitated, looking at the reflection. For a few moments, she was silent, then her brows furrowed slightly.
— "There's… only you," — she whispered.
Leticia's heart pounded in her chest.
She could still see Aya in the mirror.
— "Are you sure?" — Leticia asked, her tone careful.
Clara nodded.
— "Who else would be there?" — her voice was filled with genuine confusion.
Leticia's mind raced. Could only she see Aya? Or was Clara simply not aware of what to look for?
— "Can you describe what you see? How do I look?" — Leticia asked, her voice steady, but a flicker of unease shone in her eyes.
Clara studied her sister, then glanced back at the mirror, tilting her head slightly in thought.
— "Well… you look like you always do," — she started hesitantly. — "Your hair is long and dark. Your eyes… they seem a little brighter than usual, like they shine a bit. And…"
She frowned slightly, narrowing her gaze.
— "You look… tired. Like you haven't slept in days."
Leticia swallowed hard.
Her eyes darted back to the mirror—but she still saw Aya.
— "Thank you, Clara," — she murmured, forcing a smile. — "It means a lot that you care about me."
Clara smiled back, tilting her head slightly, making her curls bounce.
— "You're weird, sis," — she giggled softly, but there was no judgment in her voice—just childlike innocence and affection.
Leticia returned the smile, but unease still lingered deep inside her.
She needed to find out the truth.
But first—she needed to make sure she wasn't going insane.
Clara yawned, stretching, then gave Leticia a look filled with gentle doubt.
— "I should go to bed," — she said, shifting her weight sleepily. — "If something happens… you'll call me, right?"
Leticia nodded, watching as Clara hesitated for a moment before stepping through the door, casting one last glance over her shoulder before softly closing it behind her.
Now, Leticia was alone again.
She turned to the mirror.
And Aya was still there.
"Your sister is sweet." — Aya suddenly spoke.
"Yeah," — Leticia answered in her mind. — "She's too kind. Sometimes I wonder if the world is too cruel for her."
"She looked at you with such care," — Aya's voice was thoughtful. — "What's it like? To have family?"
Leticia frowned slightly.
"I don't know," — she admitted. — "It's strange, I suppose. Sometimes it's comforting, sometimes it's frustrating. But I wouldn't want to lose her."
Aya fell silent for a moment before sighing.
"I miss having a body."
Leticia studied her through the mirror.
"Do you feel… trapped?"
"Yes," — Aya gave a sad smile. — "I remember how it felt to move, to feel the weight of my own body… Now, I'm just a voice in your head. And a reflection in the glass."
Leticia's eyes lingered on her. Aya looked… defeated.
"If it were possible, I'd let you use my body…"
Before she could finish the thought—
A strange sensation overtook her.
It was as if her entire body suddenly lost weight.
Her vision darkened for a split second, and her heart pounded violently in her chest.