Flashback: Mirrors Keep Secrets

Finlay’s Flashback - Havensbrook, Wyoming

Amid the serene atmosphere of a typical afternoon, Finlay discovered himself inside one of the family's aging sheds, an isolated sanctuary filled with the fragrance of freshly cut wood and fond echoes of his family's laughter. A perfect hideaway from watchful eyes.

A recent and mysterious gift—or perhaps a curse—had just unveiled itself to him. The power to transform and shape-shift was his to explore. He hadn’t yet realized this mutation extended to his entire body, so his experimentation was confined with something smaller, subtler.

In the far corner of the shed, a single sunbeam from a cracked window filtered through. On the weathered wooden wall, Finlay had mounted a small hand mirror, a family heirloom passed down through generations, bearing silent witness to his secret practice.

At the outset, his attempts to alter his facial features were slow, cumbersome, and brimming with uncertainty. A nervous sweat glistened upon his brow, and the warm sunlight washed over his pale cheeks. Before the antique mirror, his own eyes scrutinized his reflection.

Finlay's early endeavors were focused on modest transformations—converting his iris color from blue to deep brown, lengthening his shorter hair into long straight hair, and allowing his youthful skin to absorb a sun-kissed tan, as if he had basked in endless summer days.

With minutes adding up to a couple of hours, he gained precision, and his self-assurance steadily grew. The alterations became smoother and more natural with each passing moment. Steadily, he shifted his irises through a kaleidoscope of colors. His unruly hair alternated from jet-black to auburn to platinum blond, each strand obediently adjusting to his mental image. He was making progress.

He experimented with his jawline, testing various angles and proportions, and re-sculpted his nose. Every transformation was as unique as a snowflake. As the sun dipped below the horizon, his appearance transformed from a boyish charm to rugged, masculine strength and back again. The mirror bore witness to his newfound ability.

Emerging from the shed as the twilight approached, Finlay had returned his face to normal. The sun had vanished, leaving a sky adorned with shimmering stars. He had confronted the mirrors of his existence for the first time, and in the fading light, he glimpsed the boundless potential that lay ahead in a world where change was his canvas.

However, what he didn't yet realize was that his ability to shape-shift extended far beyond what he had explored so far. He had only begun to scratch the surface of his innate power. To ensure he could always revert to his original form, he held a picture of himself in his hand while practicing, fearful that he might lose sight of what he truly looked like.