THE MAGIC MIRROR LOVE

onlight had spilled across her floor like silver ink, and

ngers were still rest

ing café cups, the quiet hush of footsteps on cobblesto

le

nto a box of war memorabilia stored in the attic. At the time, she hadn't understood its significance. She

meant ev

rgotten things. Sunlight cut through a narrow window like a blade, illu

f yellowing newspapers, inside

faded. But the name was still legi

grandf

ch, careful and clear. Her great-grandfather's handwriting-sturdy and eleg

aru

ll see your face when I close my eyes-dust-covered, wide-eyed,

. But that day, we were just humans, stunned and si

es, though I pretend not to hear. My wi

r hear the

mirror chose u

heir way to this glass, I hope they are

ugh war, maybe it can

h h

ne La

er like roots. Étienne and Haruki hadn't just found the mirror-they

ounding, and placed the let

there.

letter up t

en, reaching beyond the frame, he held up a photo she hadn't seen before-a second one. In it, Étienne

n. Somehow, t

it. But he carved something into the base

ette squinted. Four kanji sym

the mirror shimmered, and the characters tran

ee must carr

mouth. It was too much-too

while, two souls an ocean

ote: "Do you think w

r a second. Then: "I

osted acro

nce. A single, soft thru

e dreamed of a plac

through trees. The air

s not

g. His hair was damp with dew, his eyes wide

ingers

he wo

d still and qui

f written in moonlight, were three word

stop be