"I'm sorry," he says. "I don't mean to alarm you, but I forgot to tell you about todays special, Miss..."
"Flannery. Flannery Fitzgerald."
"Flannery. What a beautiful name. We have a special today. A 50% off special. Before you said that you couldn't afford to buy anything, but since today is our grand opening and you are our first customer, I am offering you any one thing in the store at half-price. Have you decided?"
You immediately glance over at the full-body swivel mirror standing in the corner. It was truly breathtaking. It appeared to be platinum with a variety of inlaid jewels around the edges: emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds...there were others that you couldn't identify, but of everything you'd seen, this was your favorite.
"Ah," the old man nodded. ""Excellent choice."
"But I'm sure I can't afford it," you protest.
"Oh, but I'm sure that you can. What would you say a looking glass like that costs?"
"Way more than I can afford," you say. "I don't know...I'm sure it's several thousand dollars."
"How much cash do you have on you right now, Flannery?"
You look at him, suspicious once again and sure somehow you're being scammed. "I don't know, maybe two hundred dollars."
"Sold! The mirror's yours."
Flabbergasted, you start to protest, but the old man will have none of it. "I insist. My gift to you, Flannery. I'm sure it will pay off for me in the long run because you'll love it so much you're sure to be a repeat customer. I'll even deliver it for you. Where do you live?"
###
You get the mirror home with barely enough time to shower and get ready for work. What I wouldn't give for a simpler life, you think as you dress. If I could just slow down!
You stand to examine yourself in the mirror before heading out the door, but what you see isn't the real world behind you, but one you've longed for all your life: fields filled with wildflowers stretch out as far as the eye can see. You can smell them. You can actually smell them! Birds chirp from their perches high atop giant weeping willows, and turquoise-colored streams trickle past your feet.
You reach for the mirror, and it ripples beneath your fingers. "What the...."
Taking one last glance at your bedroom you take a deep breath and...
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