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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#225: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

From Narcissus falling in love with his own reflection to the speaking mirror in Snow White, mirror images have always been a popular motif in literature, commonly used to introduce questions of identity or self-consciousness. But they can also be used to create a split between reality and illusion: is what we see really the truth, or are our eyes — or indeed minds — playing tricks on us? Taken one step further, one might even argue that texts themselves are a reflection of their author and the world they inhabit.

This week’s prompts invite you to reflect (pardon the pun) on topics of self-image, twisted realities, and outer appearance that may or may not capture what’s going on beneath the surface.

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone buying a cursed — or perhaps blessed —mirror from an antiques store.

Fantasy – 74 stories

Write a story about someone trying to paint (or otherwise create) a self-portrait.

Character – 66 stories

Write a story about someone coming across their doppelganger.

Mystery – 48 stories

Write a story about a character who one day notices that their reflection has taken on a life of its own.

Fantasy – 50 stories

Set your story in a house of mirrors and make the atmosphere increasingly eerie.

Horror – 42 stories

Stories

“Whispers of Reflection: The Legend Tale of Silas” by Stephanie Renee Love

Submitted to Contest #225

Once, in the quiet recesses of an ancient town, nestled between forgotten cobblestone streets and shadows steeped in history, lived a person whose name echoed in the whispers of despair. This downtrodden soul, known to many as Silas, had weathered storms that had left him weary as if the weight of the world had settled upon his shoulders.One fateful day, an unexpected and enigmatic benefactor graced Silas with a small but significant fortune, a shimmering glimmer in the darkness of his existence. Silas stood, dumbfounded and heartened, stari...

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“The Gilded Mirror” by Del Gibson

Submitted to Contest #225

The Gilded Mirror by Del Gibson It’s a beautiful sunny afternoon, until we enter the antique store. An icy cold settles around us as the door seals us in. Outside the front windows, the sky darkens as a black ominous cloud unexpectedly hides the sun away. It unsettles me for some reason. The store smells of old people, mothballs, and musky furniture. It’s a relatively smaller building compared to the other two antique stores we’ve just perused. After about ten minutes of searching, I spot the item I want – a gilded mirror for our bedroom. ...

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“Reflexive Secret” by Reid Lewis

Submitted to Contest #225

The stuffy air of the late afternoon hung low in the galleries of the antiques stores’ seemingly endless aisles. Particulate matter of all kinds danced and swirled in the rays of the setting sun as a lone man navigated his way over the eternally creaking floorboards. Smells of musty canvas and aged oak furniture permeated every inch of the store. “This place could really use an air conditioner,” the man thought to himself. Walking with seemingly no purpose, his eyes crossed what appeared to be an old barbershop mirror in the corner of one o...

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“The Foggy Mirror” by Michael Lauer

Submitted to Contest #225

The doorbell rang as I entered the rural antique store. The aroma in the store smelled old and dusty. As I walked onto the wide floorboards, they creaked like I hurt them with every step. It wasn't the scent of dried flowers or scented candles like in most shops, but a stale scent of old wood, iron, and copper that now reminded me of my life. I still remember when my late husband Charles and I visited many antique stores over the years together. We would always find the oldest items, take them home, and refurbish them to a time when it was n...

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“Love at Lake Asa” by Heather Zoppetti

Submitted to Contest #225

Anna sensed the hidden world all around her. Sometimes she heard whispers when she brushed past a bookshelf. Other times, she would feel vibrations when she touched a table. She felt this other realm strongest at her aunt’s antique store. This was one of Anna’s favorite places and she volunteered to work there every chance she had.Anna enjoyed helping her aunt. She was a fun, loving woman who raised her after she lost her parents as a baby. In the shop, the two of them enjoyed discovering old objects and fabricating stories about their pasts...

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“Upon Reflection” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #225

Scott staggered as Amanda fumbled her front door open. He was struggling to hold her latest antique shop find, a large gilt-framed mirror. Sweating and swearing, he lurched into the living room and deposited the mirror on the floor. Amanda inspected it. The ornate gilt frame was as beautiful as she remembered despite the dust in its crevices. Her face peered back at her from the blotchy glass, mousy brown hair framing a clear but pale complexion and large, expressive brown eyes almost hidden by heavy lensed glasses. She sighed. Totally nonde...

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“"Hello Gracie..."” by Regina Martin

Submitted to Contest #225

Her hands flew to her face, in utter excitement. "I have to have it!" Gracie wasn't sure if she was more enamored with how the mirror complimented her complexion, or the mirror itself. No... on second thought, the mirror definitely outshined her pale, freckled face. Many a day she had walked past this antiques store, always peeking into the window, but never taking the time to peruse within. Twenty minutes later, as she was ready to part empty handed, a mirror, hanging adjacent to the cashier's counter, caught her attention. Or perhaps...

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“Secret Legacy” by Carolyn McBride

Submitted to Contest #225

The antique store was packed with forgotten and discarded treasures, but it was the antique mirror that whispered to Sarah. ‘Me. You want me.’ She hadn’t come looking for anything in particular, she had no idea why she’d stopped at all. But once her gaze fell on the tall mirror, she wasn’t interested in seeing anything else. It stood in the window of the shop, with various other pieces that might have been found in a long-ago bedroom. But Sarah only had eyes for the mirror. The sinuous embrace of a dark, mahogany frame enveloped the silver...

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“From New Angles” by Yossi Katzin

Submitted to Contest #225

One hundred and thirty-six years it took me to find the one I needed. One hundred and thirty-six years of standing in Tallmand’s shop, watching the days pass and the people change. From my spot in the back of the store, I was ever reflecting on my environment, noting the myriad facets of the objects in it, the way the light shone and scattered through the windows across the many items for sale. Many people passed me by over those years, taking a peek at themselves in my silvered glass. I didn’t like most of them. They were incomplete, most o...

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“The Guilty Mind of Hasina” by Marcy Key

Submitted to Contest #225

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Hasina nodded her head. She was too engulfed in the masterpiece before her.“It’s on sale! It came from a very nice family not too far from here. Mmmhmm, sure did. It was their daughter’s. A nice little young thing. I’ll tell you something. You take it home today, come back tomorrow, and tell me how you like it, and I’ll tell you about who it belonged to.”Hasina looked at the middle-aged woman. She noticed that her smile was not genuine. “How much for it today?” She was not rich, but she would be crazy to pass a mi...

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“Reflections” by CM Finch

Submitted to Contest #225

The first time she noticed it, she was convinced she was seeing things. Overtired, overworked, and desiring an escape from a rather tedious reality, she had clearly wanted a moment to exist elsewhere where that tediousness was nothing but a not so fond memory. It was silly and frivolous and made no sense whatsoever. She bought it anyway. The mirror was small with a metal frame etched with a design long faded by far too many fingertips. It was oval and slightly tarnished and fit perfectly within the curve of her palm.&n...

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“Caro's Treasure” by R E King

Submitted to Contest #225

Igor looked like a hideous old toad. His creased motley face, wiry thinning hair and permanent grimace complimented his unpleasant personality. He owned ‘Igor’s Antique Shop’, but in truth, it sold all manner of second-hand goods and junk. Igor did deceased estate clearances and paid a pittance for the treasured belongings of the deceased. He made his living taking advantage of grieving people. Igor disliked me because I often browsed his cluttered store for hours without buying anything and when I did buy, I insisted on haggling. I des...

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“Inner beauty” by Mara Rouge

Submitted to Contest #225

For the Memorial Day long weekend, Vera visited Amy, her friend in Stowe, Vermont. Her trip was planned at the last minute, but both had been wanting to see each other for quite some time. She thought, with their busy schedules, that this might have been the best time for it to happen. Vera and Amy had met in college in Boston. After graduating from Emerson, Vera stayed in town and found a job working for a local TV station. Amy, on the other hand, went back home to Vermont, to care for her aging and ailing parents while looking for a job t...

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“The Eye Of The Beholder” by Richard D

Submitted to Contest #225

The Eye Of The Beholder. John stopped in his tracks. “You guys go on. I’ll catch up” he called to his friends as they walked ahead. He held his breath and stared. He had never seen anything like it. His pupils dilated, eyes widening as his jaw dropped open, transfixed. “Hey buddy" John felt a hand on his shoulder. "Come on man, we gotta get going!" John blinked and shook his head briefly, before turning to see his friend, Patrick, staring at him. "Are you ok?" "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine" "Are you sure, cos you kind of zo...

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“The Reflection in the Closet” by Oscar Lozano

Submitted to Contest #225

All I remember of the mirror was my reflection reaching out and choking me in Mickey and Rosalind’s antiques store before I woke up in the hospital. I closed my eyes and thought back to what happened. I saw Rosalind scrubbing the window, suds running down their leg. Some homophobes had vandalized the store again. I helped them finish cleaning, and Mickey came out, thanked me, and asked if I wanted to look inside. I accepted and soon found something that interested me. It was a Victorian mirror, its frame like black whisps of smoke curling ou...

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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

106

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 24, 2023 EST

Won by Olivier Breuleux 🏆

Title: The Day Alfred Googled Himself

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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