I Cannot Live Without Books

Prompt:
I woke up to hear knocking on glass. At first, I thought it was the window until I heard it come from the mirror again.

I woke up to the sound of knocking. Instinctively I looked to the window of my dorm, but there was no one there. Slowly, I turned my head and looked at the full length mirror across the room. I sighed with relief as I saw nothing but my own reflection. But then, my so-called reflection jumped out of bed and walked up to the mirror. I could barely catch my breath as I too rose and stood in front of the mirror. That’s when I realized my “reflection” was wearing different pajamas. And she stood in a slightly different way. I opened my mouth to scream but all that came out was a whisper, “Sophie?” The girl in the mirror nodded and smiled at me. I began to sob as I pulled my blanket tighter around myself.

Sophie was my twin sister and best friend.
Sophie died in a car crash ten years ago.

Prompt:
You live in a world in which you can buy bottled emotions.

Shouts echo throughout the crowded streets, bouncing off brick walls and sounding like one massive explosion. Everywhere around me vendors yell out prices and and hold up objects. Finally, I find what I am searching for. I have stumbled across a booth decked in green. Behind the counter a woman smiles at me a gestures to the row of bottles lined up on the countertop. “Are you interested in buying any of these lovely products? Perfumes are half off all week!” I shake my head and pick up each bottle one by one. Each label says the same thing– “Jealousy”. Finally, I select a bottle about the size of a soda can, and hand the saleswoman a twenty dollar bill. She gives me four ones back, and I duck back into the swarm of people.

Once I am home, I set the bottle on the counter and stare at it for a few minutes. Then I remind myself, “She deserves this. She stole your place on the team.” Just then, the doorbell rings and my dog Charlie starts barking. I rush to the front door and throw it open. There, standing before me is the girl who ruined my life, Ellen Dark. Ellen’s mother Theresa Dark is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at University of New Mexico. My whole life I’ve been training to play college basketball, but I got cut. I was beat out for a spot on the team by one person– Ellen. And even though I’m better then Ellen, her mom is the coach.

Ellen smiles at me and steps over the threshold. “Hey! Nice place you have here.” I nod and smile at her. “Would you like a drink?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual. Ellen nods and I lead her into the living room. Next door in the kitchen, I take my newly purchased bottle and pour it into a glass. It foams for a moment, then calms so that it looks like water. “Your dog is adorable!” Ellen calls from the next room. “Thanks!” I reply with a false smile. I carry my water and my revenge, and place Ellen’s glass in front of her. “Bottoms up!” I say, nervously. Ellen smiles and puts the glass to her lips…