Kakania: Have I looked at myself in my own mirror?
Kakania: I haven't because the mirror broke. Or did I do so before it shattered?
Kakania: And Zemfira's prophecy, did it come true?
Kakania: "Disaster will fall on the shards of a broken mirror."
Kakania: Disaster.
She struggles to search for any useful details in her cluttered mind.
Kakania: Umm.
Kakania: No.
Kakania jumps up from her chair, its feet screeching against the marble floor.
Kakania: I remember now.
Kakania: It did come true. Disaster struck.
Kakania: It was Elbert's arm.
Kakania: What brings you here? You haven't recovered yet.
Kakania: And don't bother. I won't apologize.
Elbert: But ...
Kakania: But what? Why are you still trying to defend him?! It's because of him that you lost your arm!
Kakania: What on earth are you thinking?
Kakania: Those trust fund boys who try to disguise their bullying as "duels." Do you really think that changes the reality of their behavior?
Kakania: You know I won't sit idly by.
Elbert: I know, but I'm still sorry I didn't stop you.
Elbert: You can't keep doing this, Klara. It's unseemly to go around roughing people up with your friends from the street, and don't get me started on the horse manure.
Kakania: I just asked them to join me for a walk, as any lady would do.
Kakania: If one seldom walks on their own two feet, isn't it normal that one would occasionally trip and fall into some manure? Just blame the fact that horses are allowed in the park.
Kakania: Or are you suggesting that I bring them to my clinic and expose all their deepest, darkest secrets with my mirrors?
Elbert: No, I most certainly am not. Father was already angry about the incident with the hand mirror, and now this.
Elbert: You've messed with someone you shouldn't have. His family's reach extends to almost every corner of the affluent classes. It's affected our family business.
Elbert: Father is ... Well, he's furious now, and he may take his anger out on you. So, please, Klara. Come with me to apologize to Ethan before it's too late.
Kakania: I swear on my life, I have no idea who Ethan even is! I simply beat up a few fair-haired boys I didn't like.
Elbert: Klara!
Kakania: I said I wouldn't apologize, Elbert.
Kakania: Don't force me to do anything I don't want to, alright?
Elbert: No, Klara, I'm not forcing you. I know that will never work. I'm begging you.
Elbert: Just this once, alright? Just apologize, and everything will be fine. Father will forgive you, and Mother will be happy, too.
Elbert: I'm begging you, Klara.
That same old trick. He knew I couldn't say no to him.
But not this time. I had a way to shut him up.
Kakania: Then, can I beg for my hand mirror back?
Elbert: What?
Kakania: You clearly think if you beg me, I'll do as you wish.
Kakania: So if I beg you, will you repair and return my hand mirror to me? Exactly as it once was? If you do, I'll apologize.
Kakania: Well? Can you do as I wish?
Elbert: I, I ...
Kakania: You can't, can you?
Kakania: My mirror will never be the same. Nor will your arm.
Kakania: And that's why I won't apologize, Elbert.
Elbert: ...
I thought he'd give up after hearing this.
But, of course, he didn't. Soon after, he paid me another visit. Clearly, the security couldn't turn down a young man with only one arm.
Elbert: Hey, Klara.
Kakania: Elbert? Why are you here?
Kakania: Come in. Let's talk inside.
Kakania: But if you're here to persuade me to apologize to that man, then don't bother.
Elbert: No, actually, I've been thinking about what you said.
Elbert: And I'm here to show you something.
Kakania: What?
Elbert: Your hand mirror, remember?
Elbert: The one given to you by your Roma friend. The one you'd rather break yourself than give over to Father.
Elbert: You said that if I fixed it for you, you'd apologize.
Kakania: It's not possible! It was utterly destroyed!
Kakania: The glass shattered into pieces. How could you possibly put it all back together?
Elbert: Actually, I did it before you even asked me to. I tried my best to fix it, and I put it in an enamel frame. But I didn't dare give it to you until you said—
Elbert: Ahem. Anyway. It's your first hand mirror. Please, take a look.
He reached into the bag on his side and pulled out the mirror.
But before he could hand it to me, I stopped him. What I'd said before was nothing but a shameless taunt.
Kakania: Sorry, but this doesn't fulfill your half of the agreement.
Kakania: I'm still not apologizing.
Elbert: What?
Kakania: This isn't "exactly as it once was."
Kakania: Look at the cracks, and the frame, too. My hand mirror didn't look like this at all.
Kakania: A talking wash basin filled with water would do a better job than this. At least that would only show one reflection.
Elbert: A talking basin?
Kakania: Ahem, just a metaphor.
Kakania: In short, it's not so much a mirror as a sign of my failed rebellion. That won't change. No matter how well you fix it, Elbert.
Elbert: It's not like that.
Elbert: Klara, I repaired it because I wanted to give it back to you, not to make you apologize to Ethan.
Elbert: It's not a sign of failure, nor is it useless. This is your very first hand mirror and a gift from a dear friend.
Elbert: If it's truly so unimportant to you, then why did you bring it up back then?
Elbert: Take it back, Klara.
Elbert: And please, forgive me for not standing up for you when you confronted Father.
Kakania: ...
Kakania: It's meaningless, Elbert.
Elbert: I know.
Elbert: But we don't always live for meaning.
Kakania: ...
Elbert: "Your first hand mirror is for reflecting yourself. Your first table mirror is for observing others."
Elbert: You've helped so many people with the table mirror I gave you, and now,
Elbert: it's time for you to reflect on yourself.
Psychiatrist: At least give it a try.
Psychiatrist: Take a look at yourself in your own mirror.
Kakania: ...
Kakania: Elbert ... No, Doctor ...
Kakania: I ... *inhale*
Kakania: I still don't understand.
???: Ask no more, dear Klara.
The illusion's voice is familiar. It's warm and soft.
It is not the voice of any one person, but of many.
Kakania: What do you want, Elbert?
Elbert: I want you to be free and happy.
Elbert: As you want all people to be.
Kakania: ...
Kakania: What do you want, Zemfira?
Zemfira: What I want is your safety.
Zemfira: Those who speak out—who pursue their dreams through the tempest—won't flinch at their soaked clothes and the treacherous road ahead.
Zemfira: I don't want you to get hurt, Klara. I want you to be safe and sound.
Kakania: ...
???: You've asked many people the same question, but what's your answer? What do YOU want?
Kakania looks at the shard in her hand.
What do I want?
Kakania: What, then, is my dream?
The surface of the shard flickers, revealing a mirror reflected in it.
It's the mirror that was once broken, but now it appears whole again.
Kakania: ...!
The hand mirror that she once held so tightly.