A Mirror Fic by GAP I kept looking at myself in the mirror, and it never got any better, no matter what angle I chose. What was I going to do? There was nothing I could do...unless Granny Barclay had the recipe for a beauty potion. Sometime while I wasn't watching, the round face I was used to seeing in my mirror had become thin. While I lacked the weather-beaten complexion of the mountain women, sorrow and anxiety had left their indelible mark. I shrugged and turned away from the bureau. I wouldn't waste time by brooding. I had work to do. But pulling dress after dress out of the trunk only recalled the days when I was the pretty young schoolteacher at Cutter Gap Mission. The practical homespun I wore was a stark contrast to the delicate fabrics I draped over the bed. I could never fit into the tailored shirtwaists again; having four children had its effect on my figure. The rain pounding on the roof matched my mood. The bedroom door was closed but I could hear the children's delighted shouts as the front door opened. Neil's deep voice answered Aunt Hattie's gentle one before I heard him climb the stairs. Without bothering with a greeting, Neil gestured towards the bed. "What are those?" "Some old dresses. I wanted to make some dresses for Amelia and Emma..." I caught the expression on his face. He wasn't interested, he wanted me to move them. Sighing, I shifted the clothes to the foot of the bed. Neil sat on the edge, reaching down to remove his mud-encrusted boots. He eased himself onto the bed. "Neil!" I rescued a sky blue dress from being crushed. Its familiar design sparked another, more comforting memory. "Do you remember this dress?" Neil opened heavy lidded eyes. "No." The warm feeling in my heart vanished. "I wore this dress when you proposed!" Half-asleep, he could still sense my hostility. "That was eight years ago! I don't expect you to remember what I was wearing eight years ago!" "A navy blue plaid shirt-flannel, red suspenders..." Neil mumbled under his breath, and turned onto his side. "You loved me in this dress. It was your favorite." "I love you in any dress" was his drowsy answer. "Besides, that isn't my favorite. This one is." Neil reached under the pillow and pulled out folds of white cotton. I laughed. "That isn't a dress, that's my nightgown. Go back to sleep, Doctor." Neil obediently closed his eyes, but he continued talking as he stroked the fabric. "Whenever I come home at night, you're always there, waiting at the door in your nightgown and bare feet. You were wearing it the four times I laid a new baby in your arms..." His words faded away as he drifted to sleep. Smiling, I crept out of the room and tiptoed down the stairs. It was time to cook supper. The End