The girl in the tea doesn’t look like me. Or does she? She is blurred around the edges, soft—too soft—with dark patches thrown across her skin from the bits of leaves and spices that have escaped the teabag.
I gently, reverently, press my index finger against the surface, a one-way mirror that somehow goes both ways. The imposter’s wavering image mimics my movement.
The tea has gone cold.
I want to slam my fist into the cup, to shatter the porcelain and slice through the girl’s liquid gaze. To smother her falsity in a blaze of pain, anger, and tepid tea dripping to the floor.
Instead, I lift my finger, extend it toward the empty chair across the table as though she were sitting here with me. I wonder if she thinks the same of me as she, too, points toward the cup’s gilded rim.
A drip forms on my fingertip. It starts small, a gathering force, static energy radiating from its growing form as if our combined stares give it power, give it strength. Too soon, it reaches the limits of the tension that binds its molecules together—
And it falls.
I see her face before the impact: fear, pain, and an unfathomable grief that makes the tea grow colder still. The dewdrop hits and she is gone, her absence filling me with a profound calm as the ripples erase her from existence for a brief, glorious moment.
The next drop to fall hits my cheek instead.
Thanks for reading! I have lots of little micro-stories sitting in my notes and in my mind that I’d love to re-work, share, and use as inspiration to write more of them. As a way to keep myself accountable, I’m tentatively starting a series of “Microfiction Mondays,” in the hopes that I’ll stay consistent!
This is a story that I wrote with gender dysphoria in mind, inspired by the pain that comes from looking at your reflection and seeing something false. It was fun to experiment with the imagery and personality of the reflection in the teacup, as well as the ambiguity of meaning throughout. I’d love to hear your interpretation of the story in the comments!
Hasta pronto,
Maddox
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. So much to unpack in so few words. I definitely got the vibe of someone struggling with identity and, after reading your explanation for the story, everything clicked into place. I also love your idea of posting microfiction - it's something I've thought of challenging myself to do, too, just to stay consistent!