Pixabay at Pexels.com

Herman’s daughter had been begging him for a self-portrait for the past year. Herman had been diagnosed with lymphoma two years previous and had been doing his best to stay alive since then. It was September. Herman had a feeling the coming Christmas would be his last. He decided to paint a self-portrait for Maria while there was still time.

Before Herman began any painting, he said a heartfelt prayer to give his hand divine guidance. Once he felt the Holy Spirit move him, Herman would go to the mirror and give himself an infused pep talk.

Head bowed, hands folded, Herman began to pray, “Please God, let your spirit guide my hand and do your will.”

Herman felt power surging through his body as never before. He went to the mirror and looked into his own eyes. Taking a deep breath to speak, Herman was shocked to see a different face than his own in the mirror. Instead of Herman speaking, the person in the mirror, a younger man with dark hair, mustache, beard, and wearing glasses began to speak to him.

“I want you to paint me as you see me here in the mirror. When you complete my portrait, you will know what to do next.”

Herman felt his mind might be going due to the chemo, but he also felt the power surging in his body, so he did as the man asked. Strangely, Herman’s cancer went into remission as he painted. By the time he had finished it 2 months later, his oncologist said all traces of illness were gone!

It was November and Maria came to visit unexpectedly. As she stepped into Herman’s studio she saw the “mirror man’s” portrait on the easel.

“Papa! How did you know?!?!?”

“Know what my dear? Do you recognize the man in the portrait?”

“Papa, Francisco Gaius Monticello was named the new Pope today!”

Fandango is the host of Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.  Fandango says:
Welcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.” Each week I will be posting a photo I grab off the internet and challenge bloggers to write a relatively short flash fiction piece inspired by the photo. While there are no definitive style or word limits, I suggest trying to keep your posts to under 300 words.