Prompt: She was the most beautiful person in the world, but she made certain there were no mirrors in her house.

Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to some great things in 2015, including my first guest appearances (official and unofficial) at some of my favorite conventions, including Illogicon, MarsCon, and ConGregate; the conclusion of my first Kickstarter campaign, for Tales of the Weird Wild West, and the anthology that we plan to produce; and several stories I plan to finish and send out for publication. 

2014 was a challenging year in many ways, for this blog and my writing in general. With the close of the year, I am closing the drawer on my first novel, Mira's Children, which I have struggled repeatedly to finish. I hope to return to Mira some day, but for now, I need to turn my attention to other projects, other stories, and find the successful conclusions that have eluded me with Mira. 

Meanwhile, I am renewing my dedication to this blog, with daily writing prompts and a brief story beginning to each prompt. I welcome (relish!) every one of you who chooses to write to the prompt, especially if you choose to share in the comments. 

I'm also looking forward to more guest posts from other authors, and book reviews of new and perhaps some older gems. Convention reports are de rigueur, of course.

Wise words from Laura Anne Gilman: " May the best we saw in 2014 be the worst we face in 2015!"

And now, on to today's prompt...

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From: 1,000 Awesome Writing Prompts by Ryan Andrew Kinder / courtesy of Karen Woodward

I’ve never seen my own face. Not in a mirror, nor a reflection in a glass or even so much as a puddle. When I was little, I used to lie in my bed and touch my face with my fingers, trying to feel my forehead, my cheeks, my nose, my chin, my lips. But I had no other child to compare with, and the few grownups who would play my game didn’t feel anything like me.

When my mother was alive, she used to brush my hair every morning when I woke up, and braid it in small braids, pinning them with flowers on my head. She would put her palms on my cheeks and cover my eyes with her thumbs. “You are beautiful, mi corazon. Let my eyes see you as you must never do.”

But she never explained why she was so very careful – everyone was so extremely careful – to never let me see any reflection of myself on any surface, even in their eyes…

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And so, with a loving heart, I offer you

Namaste

I’ve heard many translations. Here’s my favorite: 

The light of the universe that shines within me recognizes
the light of the universe that shines within you.

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