On a cloudy morning, John sat in his office reading the newspaper. The broad title made his heart stop for a moment:
"The police reveal the initial features of the recent murder suspect."
Under the title, a photo drawn based on the testimony of a witness who allegedly glimpsed the killer from afar.
John contemplated the picture... It wasn't accurate, but it carried something scary:
Facial features... the shape of the chin... and even the eyes, it resembles it in a terrifying way.
His fingers trembled, and he shrunk in his chair. He muttered in a low voice:
"No... impossible... that's not me."
In court, John felt strange looks from people. One of the policemen was sitting in the back rows, his eyes grained on him, as if he was studying him carefully.
Even the judge, whom I always respected, seemed to be watching him with excessive curiosity.
After the session was over, the police officer approached him, saying with a cold smile:
"Mr. John... We appreciate your great work in the service of justice. But... were you at your house last night?"
John was confused, his mind froze. He didn't clearly remember where he was.
He said nervously:
"Yes... of course... I was at home."
The officer smiled more and said:
– "Strange... because a neighbour mentioned that he saw someone leaving your building at midnight."
John returned to his apartment sweating. He sat in front of the mirror, looking at himself for a long time.
And suddenly... he glimpsed that strange smile, a smile that didn't look like him, but drawn on his mouth.
He retreated in fear, as if the mirror were telling him a truth he didn't want to see.
And that night, he woke up to find his shoes dirty with mud... even though he never came out