Lost in Reflection

1. Meet Sammy.
2. Sammy is six years old.
3. His birthday is on June 12.
4. Sammy was born in 2017.
5. He stands tall at 3 feet 9 inches.
6. Sammy weighs 45 pounds.
7. His hair is light brown, often styled in a short, spiky manner.
8. His eyes are a vibrant shade of blue.
9. Sammy is white.
10. Sammy’s mom is named Laura.
11. Laura is 34 years old.
12. Laura’s birthday is on April 8.
13. Laura was born in 1989.
14. She is 5 feet 7 inches tall.
15. Laura weighs around 140 pounds.
16. Her hair is chestnut brown, falling in waves just past her shoulders.
17. Laura’s eyes are soft hazel.
18. Sammy’s aunt is named Jessica.
19. Jessica is 31 years old.
20. Jessica’s birthday is on September 19.
21. Jessica was born in 1992.
22. She stands at 5 feet 5 inches.
23. Jessica weighs about 130 pounds.
24. Her hair is fiery red, cut in a chic bob.
25. Jessica has emerald green eyes.
26. Sammy’s grandma is named Eleanor.
27. Eleanor is 67 years old.
28. Her birthday is on December 22.
29. Eleanor was born in 1955.
30. She stands tall at 5 feet 4 inches.
31. Eleanor weighs around 150 pounds.
32. Her hair is a silvery white, styled in elegant curls.
33. Eleanor’s eyes are sapphire blue.
34. Sammy is having trouble sleeping tonight.
35. He’s tossing and turning in his bed.
36. Clutching his favorite stuffed animal, a worn-out teddy bear named Mr. Fluff.
37. Sammy is wearing a blue shirt and shorts.
38. He tosses and turns until he jerks awake.
39. Sammy notices he’s in his grandma’s room.
40. Confusion floods his mind.
41. He sits up slowly, feeling taller and strangely feminine.
42. The outfit he’s wearing is Eleanor’s skimpy sleepwear.
43. It’s a lace-trimmed nightgown, silky to the touch.
44. Sammy realizes his nails are done like Eleanor’s.
45. The color is bold and red.
46. “Grandma?” he yells, hearing Eleanor’s voice.
47. He runs to the mirror.
48. Staring back is Eleanor.
49. “I love you, Grandma, but I don’t wanna be you,” he says, still in her voice.
50. “Wait, why am I crying and why am I awake again?” Eleanor blinks.
51. “How silly of me, I don't have a grandson.”
52. “Eleanor, you’re crazy,” she mutters, shaking her head.
53. She chuckles softly. “Just a silly old woman.”
54. Eleanor decides to do a few tasks to tire herself out.
55. She looks at her reflection again.
56. Eleanor fidgets with her nightgown.
57. The nightgown is a deep lavender color with delicate lace around the hem.
58. Eleanor’s reflection stares back at her.
59. “Eleanor, calm down,” she says, smiling faintly.
60. For no reason, she decides to put on her platform sandals.
61. She grabs the sandals from her closet.
62. They’re black with thick, strappy designs.
63. The sandals have a chunky 3-inch platform.
64. Eleanor prepares to put on the left sandal.
65. 1. She places it on her left foot.
66. 2. She slides her toes in gently.
67. 3. The strap fits snug around her ankle.
68. 4. Eleanor fastens the buckle.
69. 5. She straightens her foot in the sandal.
70. 6. It feels secure.
71. 7. She wiggles her toes.
72. 8. The left sandal is on perfectly.
73. 9. She flexes her foot to test the fit.
74. 10. It doesn’t pinch.
75. 11. Eleanor stands her left foot firm on the ground.
76. 12. The sandal stays put.
77. 13. She adjusts it slightly.
78. 14. Eleanor looks satisfied.
79. 15. She gives one last careful press.
80. 16. Now, the left sandal is on.
81. Eleanor prepares to put on the right sandal.
82. 1. She places it on her right foot.
83. 2. She slides her toes in carefully.
84. 3. The strap fits snug around her ankle.
85. 4. Eleanor fastens the buckle.
86. 5. She straightens her foot in the sandal.
87. 6. It feels just as secure.
88. 7. She wiggles her toes.
89. 8. The right sandal is firmly on.
90. 9. She flexes her foot to test the fit.
91. 10. It doesn’t pinch.
92. 11. Eleanor stands her right foot firm on the ground.
93. 12. The sandal stays put.
94. 13. She adjusts it slightly.
95. 14. Eleanor looks pleased.
96. 15. She gives one last careful press.
97. 16. The right sandal is on.
98. Eleanor takes a few steps.
99. Each thump sounds lonely.
100. “Oh dear,” she mutters, “I feel so alone.”
101. She decides to call her daughters.
102. “Maybe talking will help,” she thinks aloud.
103. Eleanor dials Laura’s number.
104. Laura answers groggily, “Mom, it’s late!”
105. “I’m sorry, Laura, I just… I miss you,” Eleanor says softly.
106. “For God's sake, Mom. Stop bothering me!” Laura snaps.
107. Eleanor’s heart sinks.
108. She tries calling Jessica.
109. Jessica answers, frustration in her voice.
110. “What do you want, Mom?! It's past midnight!”
111. “Jessica, I just needed someone to talk to,” Eleanor pleads.
112. “You’re being ridiculous, Mom. Give it a rest!” Jessica retorts.
113. Eleanor hangs up, feeling sadder.
114. “I long for the days when my girls loved me,” she whispers.
115. “Why am I such a burden?” she laments.
116. “Eleanor, you’re just an old, silly woman,” she tells herself.
117. She never remembers her old life.
118. She continues to wear her platform sandals.
119. Eleanor looks down at her feet.
120. “Why can’t I take my eyes off them?” she wonders out loud.
121. “Oh, I bought these years ago,” she recalls.
122. “What year was it? Ah yes, 1982, I think.”
123. “Laura and Jessica were so little,” she muses.
124. “Laura was nine, and Jessica was six.”
125. “We went to that fancy store. What was its name? Oh, what was it…” she stumbles.
126. “Ah, yes, Bloomingdale's!” Eleanor exclaims.
127. She chuckles, “I remember Jessica trying them on.”
128. Eleanor decides to take off her sandals.
129. She slips into a different outfit.
130. It’s still skimpy but a bit more modest.
131. The outfit consists of a pale pink nightdress.
132. The nightdress has lace accents and cap sleeves.
133. Eleanor decides to put her sandals back on.
134. She feels more at ease in them.
135. She grabs her purse.
136. Eleanor heads for the door.
137. She locks it behind her.
138. Throws her purse over her shoulder.
139. She steps outside, the night air cool.
140. Eleanor looks around nervously.
141. “Oh Eleanor, you’re not meant to be alone,” she says to herself.
142. She starts a conversation with herself.
143. “Eleanor, you need to stay strong,” she advises.
144. “Remember, your girls don’t want anything to do with you,” she reflects sadly.
145. Eleanor realizes she must come to peace with this.
146. “It’s okay, Eleanor. You’ll be fine,” she reassures herself.
147. Tears stream down her face.
148. “I wish they would visit,” Eleanor sobs.
149. “I miss so many people,” she admits.
150. Her tears keep falling.
151. Eleanor cries herself to sleep that night.
152. Sammy wakes up the next morning, still in the dream of Eleanor’s life.
153. Eleanor keeps believing she’s always been herself.
154. Another lonely day begins.
155. Eleanor dresses in her usual clothes.
156. A floral dress with a cardigan.
157. She puts on her favorite pearl necklace.
158. And the platform sandals.
159. Eleanor makes herself breakfast.
160. Eggs and toast with a cup of tea.
161. She sits at her small kitchen table.
162. It used to be larger when the family was around.
163. Eleanor eats slowly, the silence deafening.
164. She finishes her meal and washes up.
165. Eleanor looks at the clock.
166. Time seems to drag on.
167. “Maybe I’ll go out for a walk,” she considers.
168. She takes her purse and keys.
169. Steps outside into the morning sun.
170. The neighborhood is quiet.
171. Children would be at school now.
172. She walks down the sidewalk.
173. Passing familiar houses.
174. “Eleanor, you’ve got to keep going,” she encourages herself.
175. A couple of neighbors wave politely.
176. Eleanor returns the gesture.
177. She feels a pang of loneliness again.
178. “They don’t understand,” she thinks.
179. Eleanor heads to the park.
180. She sits on a bench, watching the world go by.
181. Birds chirp, a light breeze rustles the leaves.
182. “Eleanor, you’re not completely alone,” she tells herself.
183. She tries to find comfort in the small things.
184. The beauty of nature, the warmth of the sun.
185. But it’s hard to shake the sadness.
186. Eleanor decides to head back home.
187. She opens the front door.
188. The house feels emptier than ever.
189. She puts away her purse and slips off her sandals.
190. Eleanor spends time doing chores.
191. Dusting, vacuuming, tidying up.
192. It keeps her busy.
193. Yet, the loneliness lingers.
194. “Maybe a hobby would help,” she thinks aloud.
195. Eleanor remembers she used to enjoy knitting.
196. She finds her old knitting supplies.
197. Sits down in her armchair.
198. The rhythmic motion of knitting soothes her.
199. Hours pass by.
200. Eleanor looks at her progress.
201. “Not bad for an old lady,” she smiles.
202. She feels a bit more accomplished.
203. The sun sets outside.
204. Eleanor makes herself a modest dinner.
205. A salad and a cup of soup.
206. She eats alone again.
207. Finishes up and washes the dishes.
208. The day winds down.
209. Eleanor slips into her nightgown.
210. Puts her platform sandals back on.
211. She heads to bed.
212. Laying down, she reflects on the day.
213. “Eleanor, you survived another day,” she tells herself.
214. She clutches her pillow.
215. Wishes for company.
216. Slowly, she drifts off to sleep.
217. Dreams of happier times.
218. Of laughter and love.
219. Of her daughters when they were little.
220. And hopes, maybe, things will change one day.

This story was generated by user manemansteve2 with assistance by one of OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model; prompts used to help generate the story are shown below.

Images were generated with OpenAI's AI system, DALL·E 2, or uploaded by the user.

AI Prompts