The shadow's torment didn't stop. It never really stopped, not completely. Sometimes it got quieter, fading into the background like distant thunder. But it never truly went away. It was always there, lurking, waiting for moments when Aria felt weak or alone.
Aria started avoiding mirrors completely now. She couldn't bear to look at her own reflection anymore, couldn't stand the possibility of seeing those dark eyes staring back at her. She covered the mirror in her bedroom with a thick blanket so she wouldn't accidentally catch a glimpse of herself when she walked by. She turned away quickly from windows at night when they became reflective surfaces. Even something as simple as a spoon in her tea made her nervous. Anything shiny, anything that might show her reflection, she looked away from as fast as she could.
