TM #240: Discuss an individual who has scared you.

Sometimes Ray catches himself in the mirror; stops and watches his face, looks down but can still feel a pair of eyes staring back, boring into him.

Rests his hands on the ceramic basin, listens to the kids banging around his house, the baby crying, Tony moaning to Maria that he didn’t clean his back molars just right.

Closes his eyes, imagines golden taps, smooth black marble, water so clear it was like showering in diamonds.

Gee’s playing with Barbies again. Ray lathers his chin, his mouth, up to his ears; looks back to the mirror, lathers some more.

Dead man’s eyes.

Frannie bangs on the door. Ray ignores her, picks up his razor. The reflection doesn’t move. He squints at it, he can see the differences. Slightly smaller nose, duller eyes, thinner mouth. Drags the blade down his cheek, leaves a clear olive line to his jaw. Starts on his upper lip.

Rinses the razor, the cream runs down the drain. Blinks. Palm bleeds, red rivulets swept away with the rush of diamonds; runs the heel of his hand under the water, it comes away clean, free of blood. Blinks. The shaving cream is white again.

“Ray! You better be out of there in five seconds or I’m com…”

Ray ignores her. Cleans up his face, fingers rub over smooth skin.

Only he can still see the mustache.