The steamy mirror partly obstructed her view as she peered into
Hollister’s mirror. It was the morning after and she found herself
regretting the previous night’s events. Cursing herself for not bolting
out the front door whilst he was sleeping, she gazed into the mirror.
She realised she hadn’t really looked at herself lately and that is why
she was probably in this situation to start with. Her eyes would have
displayed to her the immense emptiness within. Riddled with pain, guilt
and regret; she closed her eyes in an attempt to shield those feelings
which were projected on the large bathroom mirror. In the past week she
had lost a lot. Her celibacy, almost her reputation, her self control,
nearly a member of her unit and most importantly her best friend. She
knew in her heart he would always be there for her, yet it felt she had
been replaced by a newer, younger model. Someone who was everything she
wasn’t. He never seemed to have any time for her anymore, as a friend
that is. Professionally their relationship was the same. She could
rely on him to do the job and he respected her. It was a dynamic yet
effective relationship. Personally, they were best friends. The best
of friends would probably be a better way of putting it. He had been
such a pillar of strength throughout her personal crisis earlier in the
year. Yet now, when she again needed him; he was not there. Perhaps her
regret stemmed from the fact that she wasn’t there for him during
Stone’s shooting. Who the hell cared? It was her not him that got Ellen
Mackenzie into Bill Hollister’s bathroom.
Ring Ring. Ring Ring
“MacKenzie” she confidently answered, not wanting to expose her current
frame of mind to the caller. She was expected to be a leader and that
is what she would produce. Even to the deprivation of her own state of
mind.
“Yeah Ang. I will be there shortly... No probs... See you in about
twenty.”
With that she closed her phone and placed it back in her purse.
Refocusing on her reflection, she again closed her eyes, wishing that by
the time they reopened, her reflection would have changed. Tilting her
head backwards, she found that the same emotionless, devoid woman
standing in front of the identical bathroom mirror. Smiling slightly in
an attempt to hide her inner thoughts from the world, she moved toward
the bathroom door and exited the room.