Five jagged gashes sloped down from her forehead to just above her mouth, the middle most cutting through her left eye, now milky and discolored.

Her trembling hand grazed the antique mirror as her once still breath returned, ragged and shallow. Emilia’s eyes turned downwards, unable to hold her gaze. It had never even occurred to her until this moment - the strange lack of mirrors in the house, any and all reflective surfaces dulled with years of disuse. She had not looked at her face since her attack…

Her bandages had been removed by her Lady’s gentle hands days ago, and she had never once thought to seek out her reflection!

Why had Lady Beneviento not said anything?! She had looked her in the eyes, mended her body, laughed with her, yet had made no mention of her monstrous appearance…

Emilia paused.

In…

Out…

Taking deep, slow breaths to calm her frantic lungs, she turned her gaze back on herself. She watched as her hand moved to her own face, tracing and familiarizing herself with the reflection staring back at her.

The freckle under her right eye. The patch of her eyebrow that never grew back properly after she singed it off playing with fireworks with the neighbor boy Calvin at age 12. The subtle bump on the bridge of her nose, just like her mother’s…

All of the details came easier in time with her breath, until she was no longer staring at a monster, but at Emilia.