My Favorite Scene (From the Drawer)

This week, I’m also brushing off something from my “in-the-drawer” novel, THE MIRROR MAN, to share with y’all. I picked this scene because my mind is still wrapped around the idea behind the novel, even if my current story is getting all the attention.  Someday, I’ll come back and write this book because I love the concept that much, but until then, this teaser will have to do…

THE MIRROR MAN

At the beginning.

Again?

Seriously, back here?

What a difference.

The city of Cape Valor is still around. Everyone is still alive. It’s all here – whole and innocent. I’m really at the beginning. Again.

Kinda makes me want to puke.

I blow out a long, frozen breath into the night. The curved glass on the inside of my mask fogs. Through it, I can see the house in front of me – a house that I remember well. It’s small, clean, and identical to the other houses in this suburb of Cape Valor. A dozen feet away, the kitchen window frames a golden glow. It looks warm in there. The Applegates perform their usual dinner-prep routine: Adam’s mom cooking and his dad reading the newspaper.

They look just like I remember them. I sorta miss this life. Simple. Normal. Everyday stuff. Nice and cozy.

Weird to think that I lived in this house with them less than a year ago. Even weirder to think that I was Adam – Adam Applegate – their thirteen-year-old son – the dork extraordinaire. But I’m not “Adam” anymore, am I?

HA! Not even close.

He’s who I was, but nothing compared to who I am.

I run my fingers over the smooth glass surface on my cheek. A blue lightning bolt jumps from it into the sky. But no one inside the house notices.