Magic Pills
Sarah is exploring the circus that's in town with her close friend Joe. Buzzing around the town are rumors of real magic, promising an experience of a lifetime. Today is costume day. Sarah and her friend are costumed as jesters in purple and blue stripes.
A man caught Sarah's attention saying, "Hello! Step right up for a better life!"
"Hopeful words catch my attention. Is it true? Can what he has really end my strife?" she looked at Joe for reassurance. Who nodded okay.
"Hello darlin'" said the man tipping his hat "so you're interested in a better life?"
"Well yes. What do you got?" she replied.
Pulling open a drawer to reveal several pill bottles the man recited, "Cure for boredom, fat, dumbness, sadness, wrinkles, and poorness. All in this bottle!"
"Does it really work?"
"Absolutely. Between you and me..." the man said taking her under his arm, "I've given these to my wife on the down-low. Look at her now." He points to the young, slender woman. "She's perfect".
"Well I guess it's worth a try."
They exhange the magic pills and cash. After, Sarah goes on with her day and forgets.
A week later Joe called Sarah, "Hey did those pills ever end up working?"
"Um I kinda forgot about them. I'll start using them and let you know if anything is better."
"Okay well see you!"
Hanging up, Sarah then digs through her bag to find the pills. "Fix anything huh?" she laughed to herself. Swallowing the bitter pills after she looked in the mirror. Astonished she tried the scale next. Not only did she look younger but she lost weight too! "How is this possible?" she wondered. She looked at the instructions of the bottle, "Do not skip days dosing. Doing so could be deadly". "Well thats morbid" she thought to herself.
She took the magic pills every day. Addicted to the compliments and encouragment. Slowly, she became sick. Hours of spending time in the mirror or rechecking the scale to "double check" that she didn't reverse. Sarah lost her appetite for food, fun, or even friendship. Consumed by her image, she couldn't seem to think of anything else.
Joe realized her fall and went to intervene. Hopeing she would notice her faults, Joe brought a beer and some chocolates for celebration after. But when he arrived he found her lying on the floor with a mirror in her hand. She was weeping. She had run out of the magic pills. Joe took her, "Hey it's okay. What's wrong?"
Sobbing she answered, "I- im out of the pills. I'll go back to who I was - average"
"It's okay try to calm down. You don't need those anyway" she said brushing Sarah's hair.
"But I have never been so happy. Finally achieving perfection; that was my dream"
"Calm down. Nobodies perfect but you are good enough for me"
Sarah nodded with tears running down her cheeks. She heard Joe but she didn't listen. Her life continued, but not without her rapid decline of health. Forgetting to eat. Forgetting to sleep. She fell into a trance like state. Hypnotized by her image. Drowning in perfection. Eventually the obsession brought her to an end. Sarah was forgotten by friends and abandoned by family. All because she couldn't see past the reflection and into her heart.