Mirror

UNDER THE SHADOWS

THIRD PERSON POV

Winter shared a warm smile with her daughter Zara, who grinned back, her adorable smile revealing her missing front teeth.

Zara, still smiling but uncertain, nervously played with the hem of her dress before mustering the courage to ask "Mom, can I stay up for just one more hour?" Winter couldn't help but be amused by her daughter's charm.

Knowing Zara's persuasive ways, Winter chuckled and replied "Well, it is your birthday after all " She gently brushed away a smudge from Zara's cheek and continued, "But one hour is the limit, sweetheart. You have school tomorrow."

Zara, displaying her trademark pout, folded her arms in a classic display of frustration "But, Mom, I'm turning seven today!" she protested, her determination shining through.

Winter maintained her resolve "Exactly why it's important for you to learn responsibility, darling" she explained gently, yet firmly.

"I like you better when you paint your nails black" Zara's disappointment was evident, but she reluctantly accepted her mother's decision, realizing that arguing further would only cut into her playtime with friends.

As Winter made her way to the kitchen, she couldn't help but grumble about the modern technology in their home, which seemed overly complicated compared to what she was used to. She jokingly muttered about even the motion sensor door finding her inferior

Feeling the weight of the hectic birthday week, Winter sighed with exhaustion. Birthdays for both Nick and Zara were always a bustling and tiring affair, but Winter remained dedicated to maintaining a balance between fun and responsibility throughout the celebrations.

"You appear in need of a break" teased the family chef "Indeed, I'm quite exhausted and could use some rest" Winter replied with a smile.

Offering to take over, the chef suggested "If you don't mind, I can handle things here. Enjoy the party, it's your family's special day" Winter, guided by her belief in self-reliance, hesitated, acknowledging that one shouldn't depend on others for survival, regardless of wealth.

Reflecting on her own life, she wished she could fully follow that legacy, but a significant part of her existence wasn't entirely legitimate. Despite this, Winter compensated by working tirelessly, viewing it as a form of redemption for what she couldn't fully control

"I truly appreciate that, Melanie. Thank you" Winter picked up a plate of food. "I need to eat and rest, I've been searching for Nick. He must be somewhere in the house. Please tell him I went in to rest, and I'll join the guests soon"

Melanie chuckled at Winter's sense of duty, realizing how exhausted she must be for such a decision "I'll convey the message. Now go and take a break" she urged.

Despite feeling a sense of responsibility, Winter couldn't help but acknowledge the need for rest "You've been working tirelessly. Please, get some rest" one of the other chefs expressed concern.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, and I apologize for leaving you to it" Winter jokingly apologized, eliciting laughter from the chefs as if she had shared the best joke of the century.

She chuckled awkwardly as she exited the kitchen, passing a waiter with a tray of champagne. Initially hesitant, she decided a glass wouldn't hurt

Downing it in one go, Winter smiled gratefully at the waiter's joke "You have no idea" she replied, acknowledging her thirst for a moment of relaxation. Despite the urge to indulge in another glass, she quickly shook her head, resisting temptation.

"Thank you," she said courteously to the waiter "I've noticed you've been busy. You can take a fifteen-minute break in the guest room upstairs" she offered warmly, appreciating the hard work of the staff.

The waiter politely declined, expressing his appreciation but preferring to continue working as his shift was ending soon. Meanwhile, Winter, despite feeling tired, remained energetic, fueled by her dedication to Zara, the person she treasures the most.

However, the effects of the alcohol soon caught up with her, surprising Winter. Feeling a bit tipsy after just one glass, she struggled to maintain her balance and narrowly avoided a potential fall. Wanting to avoid unnecessary attention and concern, she retreated to her room, locking the door to maintain a sense of privacy.

Politics is nothin but a show business, her fall could end up on a page of daily news, having a bad day was a luxury she could never afford

As Winter landed on the bed face-first, she felt relief that she hadn't embarrassed herself in front of the guests by falling. However, her heart palpitations worsened, and she lay still to ease the discomfort. Gradually, she began to feel a little better, but unbeknownst to her, it was the calm before the storm. Just a minute later, she passed out, succumbing to the effects of exhaustion and the alcohol.

As Winter woke up on the queen-sized bed in her apartment, she felt disoriented and confused. Recalling feeling unwell before passing out in her sister's room, she was now faced with a splitting headache and blurry vision as she tried to process what had happened.

Having no memory of events after passing out, she reached for the water on her bedside table and drank it in one go, hoping to alleviate her discomfort. However, this turned out to be a mistake as it only resulted in a terrible stomach ache.

Winter, feeling disoriented and sick, experienced a strong urge to both throw up and cry. Her body felt unfamiliar, and despite her typically organized nature, the room didn't feel like home. While things were organized, they were not in their usual order.

Puzzled about how she got home and managed to organize her room, Winter reflected on the incident with the glass of wine. Whispering to herself, she acknowledged the need to reconsider her drinking habits, realizing the impact it had on her well-being.

Winter recognized that she had a low tolerance for alcohol, which contributed to her unexpected reaction to the wine. Despite feeling somewhat better, she still experienced discomfort, exacerbated by the headache and the realization that she hadn't changed out of her gown from the previous night.

Feeling as though she was living through a terrible nightmare, Winter struggled to navigate her room in the cumbersome gown, adding to her sense of instability.

As Winter walked towards the mirror to assess her outfit, she admired the sequined gown adorning her figure. The shimmering sequins and the line of diamonds complemented the blue light of her room, making her feel and appear beautiful

a rare occurrence for her.

Winter's sense of beauty was often clouded by body dysmorphia, a condition exacerbated by her perception of her sister's beauty. Despite their striking resemblance, she couldn't help but compare herself to her sister, noticing every mole and mark they shared, which only fueled her insecurities.

They were among the rare instances of twins with identical fingerprints and palm prints. Yet, as Eva observed her sister's polished appearance, successful, affluent, adored, and stunningly beautiful

It amplified her own sense of inadequacy. Each day, facing her sister's superior version felt like being under a harsh spotlight, where every misstep and flaw seemed to be ridiculed.

Wint's sentiments weren't rooted in envy. Instead, she cherished her sister's happiness and success. She spun around, forcing a small smile, trying to capture the essence of her sister's elegance. Memorizing every detail, the curves, the fabric patterns, she relished feeling beautiful, a sensation she hadn't experienced in a long while.

Her gaze lingered on a particular spot on her dress, sighing as she lifted it to inspect it closely, as she often did, searching for flaws or imperfections. The red mark didn't seem like part of the design, it appeared to be a stain of some sort.

As she examined it further, she discovered more stains, resembling splashes, scattered across the fabric. Her face twisted in disgust as she brought the garment closer, detecting a foul odor emanating from it. The same stains adorned the sleeve of her dress.

Disgusted, she promptly discarded the dress, tossing it into the washer as soon as she removed it. Despite feeling exhausted, she stretched, knowing it was Monday and she had work to attend to. She had asked her sister for some freedom to work, after all.

After a refreshing bath, she dressed in her suit, opting for a dark brown eye contact, a nose ring, and a pencil-drawn mole on her cheek, completing her look for work.

Scouring her closet for the most basic shoe, she found everything to be extravagant, quite the opposite of her style. With a sigh, she settled for a low heel.

Not having time to tidy her disorganized room, she hurried out, already ten minutes late. One of the downsides of her situation was transportation, she wasn't permitted to obtain a driver's license, as it could complicate matters.

She opened the door to the insurance company, failing to wear a plastic covering on her shoe, violating one of the office rules where shoes must be covered at all times.

The owner of the company, Mr. Landon, had OCD, which posed challenges for those without the condition. However, Winter didn't mind it, she appreciated Mr. Landon's neatness and organization, which made her more mindful of her own space.

She quickly retraced her steps to the plastic covering dispenser. "Hey, Winnie!" her coworker greeted happily.

Winter's expression shifted to confusion, wondering why someone who seemed to dislike her suddenly acted so friendly. "Hi, Lola," she greeted timidly.

"You look good today," Lola chirped. Winter smiled politely, saying, "Thank you" though she hesitated, sensing something unusual "Is this Marie Claire, and are those red bottoms?" Lola inquired.

Winter's smile faded as she realized why Lola was suddenly being so nice to her.

Winter typically opted for comfort over flashy attire, as she had to maintain the facade of not being herself. This subtle distinction helped differentiate her from her other self.

"I'm not sure" she replied to Lola's comment about her outfit. Winter's entire closet had been renovated without her consent, her sister's meddling in the one thing she could control was a constant frustration.

Lola giggled, delivering what seemed like a compliment, though it was laced with condescension "Wow, it's the first time you've worn something nice. You don't even know the brand!" She playfully nudged Winter, as if they were lifelong friends.

Feeling a surge of irritation, Winter watched as Lola grabbed her phone without permission 'Good, everybody acts like I don't exist' Winter thought to herself, seething silently as Lola punched in her number.

"We should have a girls' night soon" Lola suggested, attempting to touch Winter, who recoiled at the contact. "We could change your makeup style," she added, crossing Winter's personal boundary. "Hmm, thank you," Winter replied tersely, avoiding further physical contact.