REFLECTION
S.C. Clarke
Copyright 2013 by S.C. Clarke
Eleanor Clara Edwards was sitting alone in her room, she had just buried her husband Henry of over sixty years yesterday. Eleanor's eightieth birthday was also today, her only wish was to be able to spend it with her husband and her sons. During their more than sixty year marriage Eleanor and Henry had two sons, Michael and Andrew, who both were killed in action overseas during World War II, both were fighter pilots and were shot down in combat. They never had a chance to marry so Eleanor and Henry didn’t have any grandchildren. Eleanor was an only child, and she did not have any other relatives, although she was never alone she always had her Henry and now all she has is herself.
Looking over at her bedside table there are pictures of her wedding and her sons in their uniforms. She picks up the picture of her and Henry in her left hand and one of her sons in her right. She sighs, and begins to talk to them as if they were still there with her, “Michael, Andrew you boys look after your father and take care of him.” Then one by one tears began to fall from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and landing on the photos. She placed the photos on the bed, got up and went over to her vanity to dry her eyes.
Eleanor looked into the mirror, her face even though wrinkled still captured the essence of her beauty, her eyes an Aqua green color sparkled even today as they did in her youth. Her hair, long, wavy and a sort of brownish gray was pulled up into a bun atop her head. This was the first time she realized that she was truly alone, Eleanor had friends and she adored them so, but it was inevitable of what was to come, she one day would be joining her husband and sons and she accepted this.
The day was young, Eleanor went downstairs to get herself some breakfast and coffee. As she was preparing the coffee pot she says out of habit, “Henry can you get the eggs out of the fridge, I feel like an omelet this morning.” She turned around and once again realized she was talking to herself. This is going to take a little getting used to she thought to herself. Then she went over and made herself an omelet.
Sitting at the kitchen table with her breakfast and coffee, Eleanor did not feel much like eating, rather she sipped on her coffee and took intermittent nibbles of her eggs. Deciding that she wasn’t that hungry Eleanor put her
food into the fridge and went into the porch sat down and began working on an blanket she was knitting. No sooner than she started knitting the doorbell rang, it was her neighbor Jennie, Jennie was about twenty years younger than Eleanor and she lived alone and would visit Eleanor and Henry often to see if they were alright or needed anything.
Eleanor opened the door letting her friend inside, “Happy birthday” Jennie said as she handed her friend a potted plant of mums. Taking the plant and thanking her Eleanor placed it on the table near the door. “Would you like some coffee?” Eleanor asked her, “I'll get it, you sit down and relax.” Jennie went into the kitchen bringing back two cups of coffee for them. They sat there on the porch talking for a little while, Jennie get up, “I am sorry I have to go to the grocery store, do you need anything.” Eleanor shook her head, “No dear, thank you.” “I will come back later, if you want that is.” Jennie said “You are welcome here anytime.” Eleanor replied and Jennie went out the door.
Still in her nightgown and robe, Eleanor goes into the kitchen placing the cups in the sink then heads upstairs to get herself dressed for the day. First going to the bathroom, she washes her face in the sink and does her usual facial cleansing routine that she has done every day since before her and Henry were wed. He used to tease her about it because it took her almost twenty minutes. Yet those twenty minutes a day paid off she barely looked like she was over sixty or maybe even younger. She would say to Henry often, I may be getting older but I don’t have to look like I am.
She gets herself dressed and sits back down at the vanity, as she takes down and starts to brush her hair, she quickly looks behind her, she could have sworn she saw Henry standing there. “Oh Ella you’re seeing things” she said to herself in a whisper, Henry used to call her Ella all the time. Then she looks back into the mirror, but the refection looking back at her wasn’t her, it was but she looked younger not by much but maybe a few years. Eleanor then begins to run her hands over her face, then not thinking much of it she continues to brush her hair, putting it back up and applying her makeup.
The rest of the day went by, although everywhere Eleanor looked reminded her of her Henry, it made her happy and sad all at the same time.
It was nearing time for supper, she still wasn’t very hungry but she forced herself to eat. This was the first birthday in eighty years she would be spending alone. She was beginning to feel sadness taking over her again, and there was a knock at the back door, not feeling like getting up Eleanor yelled out, “Who is there?” “It's me, Jennie.” “Do come in dear.” Eleanor replied. Jennie came through the kitchen door she was carrying a package from the bakery, “You really shouldn’t keep your doors unlocked.” Jennie said with concern. They lived in a small neighborhood just outside of Philadelphia, Pa. “I am not worried nothing has killed me yet.” Eleanor said back to her. “Anyways what's a birthday without a cake.” Jennie says as she takes the cake out of the box. I was a simple eight inch round white cake with white frosting and yellow roses around it. In the center there was “Happy 80th Birthday Eleanor written in green frosting.
Jennie placed her purse down on the kitchen table and dug out a small bag of candles, “I hope you don’t plan on putting eighty candles on the cake, unless you already called the fire department.” Eleanor said with a smile and a small chuckle, this was probably the first time she has laughed since Henry's death. Jennie answered back, “No, but you do have 911 on speed dial right?” The two just laughed some more, Jennie sang a short happy birthday to her friend, Eleanor blew out the candles and they had cake and Eleanor made them some some coffee.
“Thank you for everything Jennie, I am getting tired think I will go off to bed soon.” With that cue Jennie put their plates and cups into the sink and gave Eleanor a hug. Heading to the back door, “You take care and make sure you lock up. Call me if you need anything.” “I will dear, thanks again.” Eleanor replied closing the door behind Jennie and locking it up for the night.
Going back upstairs Eleanor had the feeling that someone was following her, there goes my imagination she thought to herself again and finished climbing up the stairs into her room and got ready for bed. Her night time ritual was just as bad as the morning, fifteen minutes or more of brushing her hair and this time taking off her makeup. Which she wasn’t sure why she even wore anymore. This time when she sat at her vanity and looked into the mirror nothing seemed different, it was just her same old face looking back at her. Eleanor turned off the lights got into bed, and of course said goodnight to her husband and sons.
About a week has gone by, Jennie would come and visit almost everyday or would call Eleanor to make sure she was doing alright. Eleanor was sitting at her vanity, staring aimlessly into the mirror. Her reflection began to change right before her eyes, age spots and wrinkles that she knows have been there for years started to diminish. “What is going on?” she asked herself. Perplexed by what she is seeing, however she cannot stop looking into the mirror. Am I losing my mind? Maybe I am getting dementia or Alzheimer. “Don be silly Ella” she said into the mirror.
This would happen almost every time she looked into the mirror, then she wondered if she could she herself looking younger could others as well? Of course there was no way for Eleanor to ask anyone, she figured anyone would put her into a old folks home before she could finish her sentence. So she decided it was best to keep to herself about it.
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It was now Sunday, Jennie came over to see if Eleanor was going to attend church this morning. “Not today, but do tell the pastor that I am well and will try to come next week.” “Very well.” Jennie answered back, got into her car and drove away. Eleanor felt bad, she never missed church or even lied about it, but she has had a lot going on lately, especially with whatever was going on with her reflection.
More time has past, Eleanor now barely left her house except to go to the grocery store and pick up whatever odd and ends she needed. She would only talk to Jennie on the phone and told her that she just needed time to herself and not to take it personally. Jennie being the friend that she was understood and gave Eleanor her space, but always letting her know that she is there for her. Eleanor had become more consumed by her vanity mirror, so much that she spend most of her time sitting there in front of it. The only time she left her room was to either eat or use the bathroom.
Eleanor was now beginning to notice that her reflection in other mirrors around the house