Mirror

"the mirror is dangerous; it sometimes shows her the dark manifestation of air that matches her body, takes her form, but stands behind, watching her, with porcine eyes and wet, hushed breathing." (31)

The word porcine means resembling a pig. The image she sees in the mirror represents her illness hoovering over her. The shadow's eyes are piggish because it is greedily devouring her over time. It's breathing is hushed because it is hiding and trying to be silent at the moment.

~"porcine" The American Heritage Science Dictionary. September 29, 2008.