A Memorable Birthday Dinner
Emily was walking home with her husband from the restaurant where theyd celebrated his birthday. It had been a lovely evening, with many guestsrelatives, work colleagues. It was the first time Emily had met most of them, but if James had decided to invite them, she trusted his judgment.
Emily wasnt the type to argue with her husband. She disliked drama and confrontation, finding it easier to agree than to prove she was right.
“Emily, do you have the house keys? Can you grab them?”
She opened her handbag and rummaged inside. A sharp pain shot through her finger, and she yanked her hand back, dropping the bag.
“What was that?”
“Something stung me.”
“With all the junk in that bag, Im not surprised.”
Emily didnt argue. She picked up the bag, carefully retrieved the keys, and they went inside. The incident slipped her mind as exhaustion took overher legs ached, and all she wanted was a hot bath and bed.
The next morning, she woke to a throbbing pain in her hand. Her finger was red and swollen. Remembering the night before, she emptied her bag, item by item, until she found ita large, rusted needle buried at the bottom.
“What on earth?”
She had no idea how it got there. Shaking her head, she tossed it in the bin and dressed the wound with the first-aid kit. By lunchtime, fever set in.
She called James. “I dont feel rightfever, headache, my whole body hurts. I found a rusty needle in my bag last night. That must be what stung me.”
“You should see a doctor. It could be tetanus or worse.”
“Dont be dramatic. I cleaned it. Ill be fine.”
But she only grew worse. Barely making it through the workday, she took a taxi home, collapsing onto the sofa, where she drifted into a fitful sleep.
She dreamed of her grandmother, Margaret, whod passed when Emily was little. Though she barely remembered her face, she knew it was her. Despite the womans ghostly appearance, Emily felt only comfort.
Margaret led her through a field, pointing out herbs she needed to brew into a tea. “Someone wishes you harm,” she warned. “If you want to fight it, you must survive. Your time is running out.”
Emily jolted awake, drenched in sweat. Only minutes had passed. The front door openedJames was home. She stumbled to the hallway, and his face paled.
“Look at yourself!”
The mirror showed a strangerwild hair, hollow eyes, sickly pale.
“Whats happening to me?”
Then she remembered the dream. “Grandma told me what to do”
“Emily, were going to the hospital.”
“No. She said doctors wont help.”
They argued fiercelyJames called her delusional, even grabbed her arm to drag her out. She resisted, lost her balance, and fell. Frustrated, he snatched her bag, slammed the door, and left.
He returned near midnight, apologising, but Emily whispered, “Take me to Grandmas village.”
By morning, she looked like death. James begged, “Please, lets go to the hospital. I cant lose you.”
But they drove to the village. Emily slept the whole way, waking only as they arrived. Weakly, she pointed to a field. “There.”
She collapsed in the grass but knew it was the right place. She found the herbs from her dream, and they returned home. James brewed the tea as instructed. With each sip, she felt strongeruntil she staggered to the bathroom and saw black in the toilet.
“The poisons leaving,” she murmured.
That night, Margaret visited again, smiling. “The rusted needle carried a curse. The tea helps, but it wont last. We must find who did this.”
“Who?”
“I cant see clearly. But it involves James. If you hadnt thrown the needle away No matter. Buy new needles. Chant over the largest: *Spirits of night, once alive, hear me. Ghosts of darkness, reveal the truth. Surround me, aid me, find my foe* Place it in Jamess bag. Whoever cursed you will prick themselvesthen well know.”
Emily woke with purpose. Though weak, she insisted on going to the shop alone.
“Dont be foolish,” James argued.
“Make me soup instead. Im starving.”
She followed Margarets instructions. That night, the enchanted needle waited in Jamess bag.
The next evening, she met him at the door. “How was your day?”
“Fine. Why?”
Then he frowned. “Odd thingSandra from accounts tried helping me with my keys. She reached into my bag, pricked herself on a needle. Gave me the nastiest look. No idea how it got there.”
“Anything between you and Sandra?”
“Emily, dont. I love you. Shes just a colleague.”
“Was she at your birthday?”
“Yes, but”
The pieces clicked. Thats how the needle ended up in her bag.
As James ate dinner, Emily slept, dreaming of Margaret again. “Sandra used magic to remove you. She wont stop. Now, we return the curse.”
Days later, James mentioned Sandra was on sick leavedoctors baffled by her condition.
That weekend, Emily visited Margarets grave, tidying the overgrown plot. She placed fresh flowers in a vase and sat on the bench.
“Grandma, Im sorry I never came. I thought Mums visits were enough. But Ill come now. Without you, I wouldnt be here.”
A gentle breeze brushed her shoulderslike a ghostly embrace.
