It didnāt happen suddenly.
There was no moment where everything changed.
Just a slow feeling.
Subtle.
Easy to ignore.
At first, it was small.
Like he was slightlyā¦ disconnected.
From things.
From people.
Even from himself.
He would look at his hands sometimesā¦
And feel like they werenāt his.
Not in a dramatic way.
Justā¦ distant.
Like he was controlling themā¦
Instead of being them.
He ignored it.
Blamed stress.
Fatigue.
Normal explanations.
But the feeling didnāt go away.
It grew.
Days passed.
And reality started feelingā¦ thinner.
Less solid.
Less real.
Sounds felt delayed.
Voices felt slightly off.
Like everything was happeningā¦
Half a second too late.
He tried to focus.
To ground himself.
Touched objects.
Walls.
Tables.
But even that felt strange.
Like touching something in a dream.
Thereā¦
But not fully.
One nightā¦
He stood in front of the mirror.
Staring at his reflection.
Trying to feel something real.
āThis is me,ā he whispered.
The reflection stared back.
Perfect.
Exact.
But something felt wrong.
Not in appearance.
In presence.
Like it was copying him.
Not being him.
His chest tightened.
āThis is just in my headā¦ā
He raised his hand.
The reflection did the same.
Perfect timing.
Perfect movement.
Stillā¦
Something felt off.
Then he did something different.
Something small.
Something random.
He moved his fingersā¦
In an unusual pattern.
Quick.
Unexpected.
The reflection followed.
Butā¦
A fraction late.
His breath stopped.
āNoā¦ā
He tried again.
Faster this time.
The reflection followed.
Againā¦
Slightly delayed.
His heart started racing.
āThatās not possibleā¦ā
Mirrors donāt delay.
They reflect instantly.
Always.
He stepped back.
Looking at it.
Really looking.
And then he noticed something worse.
The reflectionā¦
Was watching him.
Not copying.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like it was reacting.
Not reflecting.
His breathing got heavier.
āWhat are youā¦?ā he whispered.
The reflection didnāt answer.
Didnāt move.
Just stared.
Thenā
It smiled.
Slowly.
Before he did.
His heart stopped.
Because nowā¦
There was no doubt.
That thing in the mirrorā¦
Wasnāt him.
And in that momentā¦
He realized something even worse:
If that wasnāt himā¦
Then who was?
