Unforgettable Celebration: The Restaurants Return
Carmen was heading home with her husband, Javier, after a dinner where they had marked their birthday. The evening had been wonderfulcrowds of friends, relatives, and coworkers. It was the first time Carmen met many of them, but if Javier had invited them, there must have been a reason.
She never questioned Javiers choices; she disliked arguments and confrontations. It was easier for her to go along than to prove a point.
Carmen, do you have the apartment keys? Can you get them out?
She fumbled through her bag looking for the keys. Suddenly a sharp pain struck, and she jerked her hand so violently the bag fell to the floor.
Whats wrong? Javier asked.
I pricked myself with something.
Your bag is such a mess, no wonder.
Carmen didnt argue. She picked up the bag, carefully retrieved the keys, and they entered their flat. The prick was already forgotten; she was exhausted, her feet ached, and all she wanted was a shower and sleep.
The next morning she awoke to an intense ache in a finger that was red and swollen. Remembering the night before, she examined her bag thoroughly and discovered a large, rusty needle lying at the bottom.
What on earth? she muttered, unable to understand how it got there. She tossed the needle away, then fetched the firstaid kit to clean the wound. After bandaging the finger she went to work, but by noon she was running a fever.
She called Javier:
Javier, I dont know what to do. I think I caught something last night. I have a fever, my head hurts, and my whole body feels like its been beaten. And I found a rusty needle in my bag.
Maybe you should see a doctor; it could be tetanus or something worse.
Dont worry. I disinfected it; Ill be fine.
Nevertheless, hour after hour she felt worse. She barely made it through the workday, called a taxi because public transport was impossible, and when she got home she collapsed on the sofa and fell into a deep sleep.
In her dream she saw her grandmother Ana, who had died when Carmen was very young. She didnt know how, but she was certain it was Ana. Though the specter appeared hunched and aged, Carmen felt her grandmothers presence trying to help.
Ana led her through a field, pointing out herbs she should gather to brew an infusion that would cleanse her body of the darkness that was beginning to consume her. She warned that someone wished her harm, and for Carmen to confront that, she needed to survive. Time was running out.
Carmen woke up drenched in cold sweat. She thought shed slept for ages, but only minutes had passed. The door openedJavier was at the threshold. He looked alarmed:
What happened to you? Look in the mirror.
She walked to the mirror. Yesterday she had seen a smiling, beautiful woman; now she saw an unrecognizable figure with tangled hair, dark circles, and a hollow face.
What is happening?
She remembered the dream and told Javier:
I dreamed of my grandmother. She told me what to do
Carmen, get dressed. We need to go to the hospital.
I wont go anywhere. My grandmother said doctors cant help me.
A heated argument erupted. Javier called her crazy for trusting an unknown old woman in a dream. It was their first fierce fight. He even tried to force her out the door, grabbing her arm.
If you wont go willingly, Ill take you by force.
Carmen slipped, lost her balance, and struck a corner. Javiers reaction worsened; he snatched the bag, slammed the door, and left. Carmen managed only to text her boss that she was ill and would need a few days off.
Javier returned near midnight, begging forgiveness, but Carmen replied:
Take me tomorrow to the village where my grandmother lived.
The following morning Carmen looked more like a walking corpse than a healthy young woman. Javier pleaded:
Carmen, dont be foolish, lets go to the hospital. I dont want to lose you.
They drove to the village. Carmen only remembered the name; she hadnt been back since her parents sold her grandmothers house. She slept during the ride, but when they neared the hamlet she woke and pointed:
Over there.
She staggered out of the car, collapsed onto the grass, and realized she was exactly where her grandmother had indicated. She collected the required herbs and they returned home. Javier prepared the brew according to Carmens instructions. She sipped it slowly, feeling a slight improvement with each swallow.
Summoning the strength, she went to the bathroom; when she got up, her urine was black. Instead of panic, she repeated her grandmothers words:
The darkness is leaving
That night she dreamed of Ana again, who explained that someone had cursed her with the rusty needle. The remedy would restore her strength, but only briefly. Carmen needed to discover the culprit and return the malice. Ana admitted she didnt know who it was, but Javier was somehow involved. Had she not thrown away the needle, she might have said more.
Well do this: buy a box of needles and, on the largest one, recite this spell: Night spirits, before you dwell! Hear me, ghosts of darkness, proclaim the truth. Surround me, point me, aid me, find my enemy Place the needle in Javiers bag. Whoever caused the harm will prick themselves, revealing their identity so we can return their evil.
The grandmother faded like vapor after speaking.
Carmen awoke knowing that, though weak, she would recover with her grandmothers help. Javier decided to stay with her that day, caring for her. He was surprised when Carmen insisted on going alone to the supermarket:
Carmen, dont be ridiculous. You can barely stand. Lets go together.
Javi, make me some soup. After this virus Im ravenously hungry.
Following the dreams guidance, she later that night slipped the needle into Javiers bag. Before sleeping, he asked:
Are you sure you can handle this? Dont you want me to stay?
Ill be fine.
Carmen felt a little better, yet the malevolence still lingered inside her like an unwanted tenant. The remedy helped her keep that darkness in check. She anxiously awaited Javiers return from work, greeting him at the door with:
How was your day?
Fine, why do you ask?
Just as she thought the attacker hadnt yet shown themselves, Javier added:
Imagine this, Carmen: today Irina from the next department tried to help me pull the keys from my bag because I had a stack of papers. She stuck her hand in and pricked herself with a needle. Her angry face was terrible.
Whats your relationship with Irina?
Carmen, please. I love only you. Irina or anyone else means nothing to me.
Was she at your birthday party at the restaurant?
Yes, shes a good colleague, nothing more.
Everything clicked for Carmen. She understood how the old rusty needle had ended up in her bag.
Javier went to the kitchen to have dinner. While Carmen slept, her grandmother appeared again in a dream, explaining how to return all the evil Irina had tried to unleash. She revealed that Irina wanted to eliminate her rival to be with Javier. When natural means failed, she turned to magic, stopping at nothing.
Carmen carried out every instruction. Soon after, Javier told her that Irina was on medical leave because she was seriously ill and doctors were baffled.
Carmen asked Javier to take her one weekend to the cemetery in the village where her grandmother was burieda place she hadnt visited since the funeral. She bought a bouquet and gloves to clear weeds from the tomb. After some searching she finally found Anas grave; the photograph on it showed the same face that had guided her in dreams and saved her life. She cleaned the site and placed the flowers.
Grandma, Im sorry I didnt come sooner. I thought my parents yearly visits were enough, but I was wrong. Ill come more often now. If it werent for you, I probably wouldnt be here.
Carmen felt a gentle embrace on her shoulders. When she turned, no one was there, only a soft breeze.
