Professor Van Helsing
had his back turned
to the hall throughout
the lecture. Addressing
the blackboard, he argued
that not appearing in mirrors
is the source of vampires’
powers, not part of their curse.
What could be worse, he said,
than seeing your face age day by day
like an ugly candle. He stopped,
proud of the simile. Imagine the freedom,
he said. You could have heard
a pin drop.