Tom stood before the Mirror of Erised. As he gazed into it, the reflection transformed into an image that he had only ever dared to dream of: a beautiful garden bathed in the soft light of a setting sun, filled with the joyous laughter of a woman and a little girl.

The woman, with her kind eyes and radiant smile, was undeniably his wife. The little girl, a mirror of her mother with Tom's dark hair, danced around, her laughter like music to his ears. They played together, utterly happy and content.

Tears welled up in Tom's eyes, blurring the vision slightly, but he couldn't look away. He sat down in front of the mirror, for what felt like hours, losing himself in the fantasy. The wife called out to him, the daughter ran to him with open arms, and for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine stepping into that world, being part of it.

With a heavy heart, he stood up, wiping away the tears.