The Projector

Jack’s life is defined by its disquieting absences: no memories of his own face, no sense of permanence, and a body that feels borrowed. Alone in the early morning quiet of the cinema where he works, he encounters a new trainee—Mack—who is more familiar than any stranger should be. As their unsettling resemblance deepens, Jack finds himself face to face with the thing he has wanted his entire life: a projection of himself. 

Themes:

• liminal spaces
• dysphoria
• identity
• aphantasia
• dysphoria
• derealization 
• dissociation

Rep:

• achillean
• trans man

Read if you like...

• Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer
• The Thing
• Us 
• The Mist
• Kane Pixels/The Backrooms
• movie theaters that have not changed the carpet since before you were born

Triggers (in addition to the themes mentioned):

• gore

What people are saying about The Projector:

"I was horrified the entire, short read. I was infatuated with the writing style. Everything about this short story had me clawing for more." (Storygraph Reviewer)

"This story absolutely fucks with my perception of self in a comfortingly sad way, especially as a trans person, but it's also so gripping with the way it holds you in its claws and I adore it so much." (Storygraph Reviewer)

Find 'The Projector' on Storygraph