Genre: Mystery horror + Elderly
Phase: Old age (70+ years)
Grandma Lila lives alone in a small stilt house on the edge of the forest. She has one taboo: don't let anyone see her mirror. The mirror is cracked and old, but she says, "the mirror holds a 'door' that I haven't closed."
One night, her granddaughter comes to visit. Out of curiosity, she peeks into the mirror secretly. But what she sees is not her face, but a young figure crying while holding her head—similar to Grandma Lila, but younger, more wounded.
Grandma is furious, but only says, "Now she knows you exist. Don't let her enter through your reflection."
Interesting knowledge: In Indonesian culture, mirrors are often associated as "windows between worlds". Even in psychology, there is a phenomenon of mirror self-disconnect, where the elderly feel they don't recognize their own reflection.
Philosophy: We all keep versions of ourselves that have been hurt. But don't let old wounds be the only reflection we see.
Strange rumor: In many areas, it is believed that if one looks into an old mirror that belonged to a traumatized parent, one can "release" the sealed memories—and invite that past version back.