[ WP ] A magical mirror shows your reflection and your future soulmate . You only see your reflection .

The human mind is a funny thing. It's capable of justifying so much through the power of nothing else but a strong belief in something. 
 
 So what if I'd been alone for a few years? I have a good life, I have good friends - and after much badgering on their part I finally gave in and went to see this so-called `` magic'' mirror. 
 
 A few of my attached friends claim this wondrous object helped them find the love of their lives! They told me I just had to look into it and I'd see the person I was destined to end up with standing next to me. They're apparently not alone in their experience either... as thousands of people flock to this so-called wonder, whenever it shows up every few years in the small travelling fair. 
 
 `` Why not? ``, I recall thinking to myself, shortly before stepping in front of the mirror and removing the tattered cloth that hid its polished silver surface. 
 
 My friends had told me how it worked - despite this, I'm not sure what I was expecting. Before entering the tent with the mirror, a man outside with a haunted look in his eye was trying to convince others not to enter, saying it had ruined his life. I'd be lying if I said that did n't shake me somewhat, but I'd already resolved to at least give it a shot. 
 
 So I looked in the mirror and saw... myself. Looking back at me, slightly confused - hopeful, maybe? Soon that expression gave way to disappointment. 
 
 I squinted at it - maybe there was a shape next to me? No.. just a trick of the light. 
 
 As I replaced the covering, I walked out deep in thought. Was I really to be alone in my life forever? Behind me, a woman rushed out and squealed happily to her friends, saying something about the kind of man she saw herself with in the mirror. I recall her describing vague, general terms. Athletic build, brown hair... pah. Nonsense. 
 
 My friends had told me this was supposed to help me find my `` soulmate'', whatever that meant. But inside the mirror, I saw only myself. 
 
 As I walked away, I could n't help but keep thinking about it. The last few years have been lonely, I'll admit that. There was even a dark time where I was convinced that there was something wrong with me, that I'd be alone for the rest of my life. I'll admit that, too. But in reflecting on this experience I just had, I realized something: I've been too caught up in myself. I've been looking too far inwards. I've been focusing so much on my life and my problems that I've lost sight of everything else around me. How could I possibly find someone else if I could n't see the forest for the trees? 
 
 Maybe the mirror really is magic. Maybe it is supposed to help you find your soulmate, or maybe it's something more general than that... maybe it's supposed to help you try and find your `` other half''. And maybe, then... I'd lost that other half of myself. When was the last time I loved myself? When was the last time I was happy - with me? Tears came to my eyes unbidden, at these thoughts. 
 
 I sighed, deeply. 
 
 Then again, maybe it's just a regular old mirror. 
 
 Perhaps it was just what I needed.
