A couple walked home, still buzzing from an unforgettable birthday dinner.
Chloé left the restaurant with her husband, Thomas, after celebrating her birthday. The evening had gone off without a hitch: the place was packed with family members and work colleagues. Chloé was meeting many of them for the first time, but Thomas had insisted on inviting them, so it was unavoidable.
Chloé never liked to argue with Thomas; she avoided conflict whenever possible. It was easier for her to go along with his wishes than to defend her own opinion.
Chloé, are your keys stuck deep in your bag? Can you pull them out?
She fumbled through her handbag, feeling for the keys. A sharp sting made her jump, and she dropped the bag onto the floor.
Why are you shouting?
I pricked myself on something.
With all the junk in that bag, its not surprising!
She didnt answer, scooped up the bag and carefully retrieved the keys. Inside the apartment, the incident faded from her mind. Her legs ached from fatigue, and she just wanted to shower before bedtime. The next morning she woke with a throbbing pain in her hand; her finger was red and swollen. She recalled the previous night, grabbed her bag, and began a meticulous search. At the bottom she found a large, rusted needle.
What on earth is that? she wondered, unable to comprehend how the object had gotten there. She tossed the odd find into the trash, then fetched the firstaid kit to disinfect the wound. After bandaging her reddened finger, she headed to work. By lunchtime, however, a fever set in.
She called Thomas:
Thomas, I dont know what to do. Yesterday I think I caught an infection. I have a fever, a headache, and my whole body aches. I found a big rusted needle in my bag and its what pierced me!
You should see a doctor; it could be serious.
Dont worry, I cleaned the wound; Ill be fine.
Hour by hour her condition worsened. Barely finishing the workday, she took a taxi home, unable to endure public transport. She collapsed onto the couch and fell asleep.
In her dream she saw her grandmother Marie, who had died when Chloé was very young. Though she didnt know how, she recognized her instantly. Frail and bent, the old woman would have frightened many, yet Chloé felt the grandmother wanted to help. The dreamgrandmother led her through a field, pointing out which herbs to gather for a cleansing infusion, warning that someone wished her harm and urging her to stay alive to fight back. Time was short.
She woke drenched in sweat, thinking she had slept for hours, though only moments had passed. The front door slammed; Thomas had returned. She slid off the couch and went to the hallway. Seeing her, he was startled:
Whats wrong with you? Look at yourself in the mirror!
Chloé approached the mirror. The night before she had seen a smiling face, but now she barely recognized the gaunt reflectiondull hair, dark circles, a grayish complexion, a vacant stare.
What is happening?
She recalled the dream and told Thomas, I saw my grandmother; she told me what to do
Chloé, get dressed, were going to the hospital.
No, I wont go. Grandmother said doctors cant help me.
A fierce argument erupted. Thomas called her crazy, accused her of hallucinating about her grandmother. For the first time they fought violently, and Thomas tried to force her into a car.
If you refuse, Ill drag you by the neck.
Chloé snapped free, lost her balance, and hit a corner. Enraged, Thomas snatched her bag, slammed the door, and left. She managed only to send a message to her boss, explaining she was ill and would stay home for a few days.
Thomas returned late, apologizing. All Chloé could say was, Take me to the village where my grandmother lived tomorrow.
When she opened her eyes again, she looked more like a specter than a healthy young woman. Thomas kept pleading, Chloé, stop this madness, we need to go to the hospital. I dont want to lose you.
But they drove to the village. The only thing Chloé remembered was the name of the place; she hadnt visited since her parents sold her grandmothers house after Maries death. Throughout the journey she slept. She didnt even know which field to look for, but as they neared the village she awoke and told Thomas, Its over there.
She stumbled out of the car and collapsed onto the grass, exhausted, yet convinced she was where her grandmother had guided her. She located the herbs from the dream, returned home, and Thomas prepared the decoction as instructed. Chloé sipped it slowly, each mouthful easing her a bit.
She dragged herself to the bathroom; when she stood, she saw her urine was black. Rather than frighten her, it confirmed her grandmothers words:
The poison will leave
That night she dreamed of Marie again. The old woman smiled and spoke:
A curse was cast on you through that rusted needle. My remedy will give you strength, but only temporarily. You must find the one who harmed you and send the evil back. I cant see who it is, but its linked to your husband. Had you not thrown that needle away, I could have told you more. Heres what to do: buy a box of needles, take the largest, and recite this incantationNight spirits, those who have lived, hear me; specters of darkness, bring truth. Surround me! Show me, help me, find my enemythen slip the needle into your husbands bag. The caster will be pricked and well know who it is, allowing us to return the curse to its source.
After delivering the message, her grandmother vanished like mist.
Chloé awoke still feeling terrible, yet convinced she would recover with her grandmothers aid. Thomas decided to stay home to care for her. He was surprised when she prepared to go to the store alone, insisting she needed help.
Chloe, you can barely stand. Let me come with you.
Thomas, make me a soup; I have an ogres appetite after this virus.
She followed her grandmothers dream instructions precisely. That evening the enchanted needle was placed in Thomass bag. Before bedtime, he asked, Are you sure you can manage on your own? Maybe I should stay with you longer?
Ill manage, she replied.
She felt better, though she sensed the malign force still lingered, perhaps shifting into him. Still, the threeday remedy acted like an antidote, irritating whatever dwelled within her.
She waited anxiously for Thomass return from work, greeting him at the door with the first question:
How was your day?
Fine, why do you ask?
She began doubting the plans effectiveness, but Thomas suddenly added, It sounds crazy, but today Irène from the neighboring department tried to help me look for my office keys in my bag while I was juggling files. She got pricked by a needle in my bag and stared at me with such fury I thought shed kill me with her eyes.
Whats your connection to Irène?
Chloé, listen. Youre the only one I love; no one else, not Irène, not anyone.
He confirmed Irène had been at the birthday dinner. Chloé then understood how the rusted needle ended up in her bag. Thomas went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
That night she dreamed of Marie once more. The grandmother showed her how to rebound the curse onto Irène. She explained that Irène, through magic, wanted to push Chloé aside and take her place beside Thomas. If she couldnt achieve it naturally, she would resort to sorcery, stopping at nothing.
Chloé obeyed every instruction. Soon after, Thomas told her that Irène was on sick leave, seriously ill, with doctors at a loss.
Chloé suggested they visit her grandmothers village cemetery the following weekend, a place she hadnt been since the burial. She bought a bouquet, donned gloves, and cleared the overgrown grave. She struggled to locate Maries tomb, but finally saw her photo on the stoneproof that the woman appearing in her dreams truly wanted to rescue her.
She cleaned the grave, placed the flowers in a waterfilled bottle, sat on a bench, and whispered:
Grandmother, Im sorry I didnt come sooner. I thought an annual visit by my parents was enough, but I was wrong. Ill come more often now. If you hadnt been there, I probably wouldnt be alive today.
Suddenly she felt a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder, as if her grandmother were reassuring her. She turned, saw only a soft breeze
A Couple Joyfully Returns Home After an Unforgettable Birthday Dinner
