The mirror in the attic

This is a reading activity. The first paragraph was the story starter and I wrote the rest. I posted this because I am proud of it, even if the best paragraph is the one I didn't write.

She had found it lying alone, deserted, abandoned in the attic. After making the discovery, Anna had gazed and marvelled at it for some time. Where had it come from? Why had no dust settled upon it, as it had done over everything else that resided in her attic? A layer of the thick dust blanketed the attic floor, and as the sunlight glared through the attic windows, the dust particles yet to settle were illuminated as they hovered in the stuffy air. Yet, the mirror looked flawless, untouched by age, not a fingerprint in sight.

Anna propped the mirror up against one of the thick, timber beams that jutted from the attic floor. Settling down into a comfortable position, she tentatively placed a finger against the glass…

The glass starts to ripple as her reflection starts to transform. The reflection then spirals, creating an abstract image. It take a moment to figure it out but then Anna realises it. She sees it all the time. It is how she portrays herself. Her figure has been disrupted with moving, bullying, trust issues and lack of confidence. All the things she has been through have left their mark. Tears gather in her eyes and run down her cheek, leaving a red line in their tracks.

Her mind clears as she thinks of the positive things in her life. She thinks of her best friend and their shared moments, of the people that love her and most importantly, her.

Anna reaches out to the mirror and with one finger, touches the muddled reflection. The image clears and is her once more.