Brotin Tales: Man in the Mirror

Welcome back to Brotin Tales! It's been a while since Otin and I did one of these, so for any newbies, hang onto your seats. I have the first part of our story this go round, so once you are done here you are heading to Otin's to figure out what just happened...so sit back, enjoy the read, and I will be just as surprised as you to see how Otin ends it...

~Man in the Mirror~

i live on the road, along with thousands of other faces, on their way somewhere, to do something, crowded into airports, waiting. i love it. not the waiting part, but seeing the world through the windshield of my rental car, helping people make the best product choice. i really do believe we have the best products available, that's what makes me good at what i do.

when the day is done, i like nothing more than finding an out of the way hotel, not the fancy kind with all the bells and whistles, but the kind where two to three walls are made of cinder block, the paisley on the bed cover was out of date when they bought it and people will leave you alone. i don't want someone to wait on me, i don't want people catering to my every need or offering me upgrades. i just want silence.

i really cant stand the doors you open with a card either. give me a lock i can twist and hear the firm thump of it taking hold in the frame. its too easy for cards to get mixed up and the next thing you know, someone is walking in on me just getting out of the shower or sitting around on the couch in my underwear. i like to be secure, and silent.


bill's motor inn does not disappoint. the lady at the front desk is still wearing her teal waitress outfit, probably from another job, as i check in at the front desk. she could really care less who i am, barely even looking at me, just asking for the few pieces of required information and sending me on my way with a bronze key in my hand. it feels good in my fingers.


rattling the key in the door, the smell of a well used room wafts through the entrance way and i sigh, home sweet home. scanning the room, the orange red carpet stretches past the solitary bed to a white brown flecked linoleum by the sink, where the another door leads into the bathroom. two press board bedside tables and a dresser with a television on top. i am sure the requisite gideon's bible is in the drawer.

placing my bags by the dresser, i move to the sink to wash the weariness from my eyes. reaching for the warm water first, my fingers graze the clear plastic jewel knob, i look to the mirror and see that i am not alone.

a man in a bath towel stands looking into the mirror. breath catches in my chest, burning toward my heart that is racing. i spin to confront him, only to find i am alone once more. an uneasy chuckle slips past my lips. man, that was crazy. i need to lay off the coffee.


turning once more to the basin, i quickly spin the hot water, pressing its warmth into my face with my fingers. turning the water off, I see movement in the reflection, as the man is now putting his suitcase on the bed. cocking my head to the side, there is no one over my shoulder, but in the mirror, the man is laying things on the bed....things that look deadly.


when he smiles at the mirror, shadows roll from the edge of my eyes fading the world black and i feel myself falling to the floor.

Now, head over to Otin's...