Special Birthday Celebration: The Couples Unforgettable Dinner
Helena returned home with her husband after the restaurant where they had marked his birthday. The evening had been wonderful, attended by many relatives and coworkers. It was the first time Helena had seen so many of them, but since Rui had chosen to invite them, their presence felt important.
Helena never liked to challenge her husbands decisions; she avoided scandals and arguments. It was easier for her to go along with Rui than to try to prove she was right.
Helena, are the apartment keys nearby? Can you grab them? he asked.
She rummaged through her purse, searching for the keys, when a sharp pain struck her hand. She pulled hard, dropping the purse onto the floor.
Why did you scream? he pressed.
I was stung by something.
Theres so much in your bag, Im not surprised.
She didnt argue. Helena retrieved the keys, and they entered the flat, the earlier incident already fading from her mind. Her legs ached from exhaustion; she longed for a shower and a bed. The next morning her hand throbbed intenselyred, swollen. She recalled the night before, opened her purse, and examined its contents piece by piece. At the bottom lay a large, rusted needle.
What is this? she muttered, baffled by how it had ended up there. She tossed the odd find into the trash, fetched a firstaid kit, and tended the bite. After bandaging the reddened finger, she headed to work, but by lunchtime she felt feverish.
She called Rui:
Rui, I dont know what to do! I think I got infected yesterday. I have a fever, headache, my whole body aches. I found a rusted needle in my bagits what stung me.
Maybe you should see a doctor. We dont want it to turn into tetanus or a serious infection.
Dont overreact. I cleaned the wound; Ill be fine.
Time passed, and Helenas condition worsened. She barely made it through the workday before hailing a taxi home, knowing she lacked the strength for public transport. She collapsed onto the sofa and fell asleep.
In her dream she saw her grandmother Maria, who had died when Helena was very young. Though the apparitions appearance could be unsettling, Helena sensed her grandmothers intent to help. The old woman led her through a field, pointing out herbs she should gather, explaining that a brew would cleanse her body. She warned that someone wished her harm, and that Helena needed to survive, as her time was running out.
Helena awoke drenched in cold sweat. Though she felt she had slept for hours, the clock showed only minutes had passed. She heard the front door openRui had returned. She slipped off the sofa and walked to the hallway. Seeing her, Rui exclaimed, What happened to you? Look at yourself in the mirror!
She approached the mirror. Yesterday she had seen a young, radiant woman; now she barely recognized herselfdisheveled hair, deep dark circles, a pale, vacant face.
Whats going on? she asked.
Remembering the dream, she told Rui, I dreamed about Grandma. She told me what to do.
Helena, get dressed; were going to the hospital.
Im not going anywhere. Grandma said the doctors wont help.
A heated argument erupted. Rui called her crazy, thinking she was delirious from dreaming about an unknown old woman. For the first time they fought fiercely; Rui even tried to forcefully pull her out.
If you wont go willingly, Ill take you by force.
Helena struggled, lost her balance, fell, and hit herself. Angrier still, Rui snatched her purse, slammed the door, and left. The only thing Helena managed was a message to her boss, claiming she had caught a virus and needed a few days off.
Rui came back close to midnight, apologizing. She replied, Take me to the village where my grandmother lived.
At dawn Helena looked more like a walking corpse than a healthy young woman. Rui begged, Helena, dont be foolish, lets go to the hospital. I dont want to lose you.
Instead they drove to the village. Helena could only recall its name; she hadnt visited since her parents sold her grandmothers house. She slept through most of the ride. Unsure which field to search, she whispered to her husband as they neared the village, Lets go that way.
With effort she got out of the car, collapsing onto the grass, exhausted but convinced she was where Grandma Maria had guided her in the dream. She found the herbs she had been shown, and they returned home. Rui prepared the infusion, following Helenas instructions. She sipped small amounts, feeling a slight improvement with each swallow.
She barely made it to the bathroom; when she stood again, her urine was black. Rather than frighten her, it confirmed Grandmas words: The evil is leaving
That night she dreamed of Grandma again, this time smiling. The old woman spoke:
They sent you a curse through the rusted needle. The brew will restore your strength, but only briefly. We must discover who did this and return the curse. I cant see the culprit, but it involves your husband. If you hadnt thrown away the needle, I could tell you more. Yet
She continued: Go to the shop, buy a pack of needles, and on the largest one recite this charm: Spirits of the night, once alive! Hear me, ghosts of night, reveal the truth. Surround me! Show me, help me, find my enemy Place that needle in your husbands bag. Whoever cursed you will be pricked, and well learn his name and return the curse.
With those words, Grandma dissolved like mist. Helena awoke still feeling ill but confident she would get better, trusting her grandmothers aid.
Rui stayed home that day, caring for Helena. He was surprised when she announced she wanted to go to the market alone.
Helena, dont be reckless; you can barely stand. Lets go together.
Rui, make me a soup; I have a terrible appetite after this virus.
Helena followed every instruction Grandma had given in the dream. That night the enchanted needle lay in Ruis bag. Before sleeping, he asked, Are you sure you can manage on your own? Should I stay a bit longer?
I can do it.
Helenas health was improving, yet she felt the lingering evil moving inside her, poisoning her. The threeday infusion acted like an antidote, a nuisance to the darkness consuming her.
She waited, with difficulty, for Rui to return from work, meeting him at the doorway. His first question: How was your day?
Fine, why do you ask?
She thought nothing unusual had happened until Rui added, You wont believe ittoday Sandra from the nearby department tried to help me by taking the keys from my bag. My arms were full of files, and when she reached into my bag she got pricked by a needle. How did it get there? She looked at me as if she wanted to kill me with her gaze.
Do you have something with Sandra?
Rui, please. I love only you. Its not Sandra or anyone else.
Was she at your birthday dinner at the restaurant?
Yes, she was therea colleague, nothing more.
For Helena it was like a puzzle snapping into place; she finally understood how the rusted needle had appeared in her purse.
Rui headed to the kitchen where dinner awaited. Helena fell asleep again, dreaming of Grandma, who explained how to return the harm to Sandra. The old woman said Sandra, using magic, wanted to eliminate Helena and take her place beside Rui. If she couldnt achieve it naturally, she would resort to sorcery, stopping at nothing.
Helena obeyed every directive. Soon Rui announced that Sandra was on medical leave, gravely ill, with baffled doctors.
Helena asked her husband to take her that weekend to the village where her grandmother lived, to the cemetery she hadnt visited since the funeral. She bought a bouquet, gloves to clean the old tombstones, and, with effort, found Marias grave. Approaching, she saw a photo of her on the headstoneher savior from the dreams. She tended the grave, placed the flowers in a waterfilled jar, sat on a bench, and spoke:
Grandma, Im sorry I didnt come sooner. I thought my parents yearly visits were enough, but I was wrong. Now Im here. If it werent for you, I might not be alive.
At that moment Helena felt as if her grandmothers hands rested on her shoulders. She turned, but only a gentle breeze remained.
