The third eye

Martha walked around the living room, searching frantically for her purse. She had to leave for work in 15 minutes and she couldn't find it anywhere. She looked under the couch, behind the curtains, and even checked the kitchen, but the purse was nowhere to be found.

Just as she was about to give up and call in sick, her two-year-old daughter Maya toddled into the room. Martha smiled at her little girl, thinking nothing of it until Maya walked directly to where the purse was and handed it to her mother. Martha was stunned. How did Maya know where her purse was? She didn't even know how to talk properly yet.

"Thank you, sweetie," Martha said, giving Maya a hug. "You're a clever girl."

Maya smiled innocently, unaware of the significance of her actions. Martha shrugged it off as a lucky coincidence and went to work.

A year passed, and Martha had forgotten about the incident with the purse. She was in her room, trying to rearrange a few things. She was standing underneath the fan, trying to adjust its angle, when Maya came in. Martha was annoyed, thinking that Maya would only get in the way.

"Maya, I'm busy right now. Go play with your toys," Martha said, not paying attention to her daughter.

But Maya wouldn't budge. She tugged at her mother's arm, trying to drag her away from the fan. Martha was getting more frustrated by the second.

"Maya, stop it! I'm not in the mood for games," she said, pushing her daughter away.

But Maya persisted. She started crying, clinging to her mother's leg. Martha was about to lose her temper when suddenly, there was a loud crash. The fan had come loose from the ceiling and crashed onto the spot where Martha had been standing just a second ago.

Martha was in shock. If it hadn't been for Maya's insistence, she would have been seriously hurt or even killed. She hugged her daughter tightly, realizing that there was more to Maya than met the eye.

"Thank you, Maya. Thank you so much," Martha said, tears streaming down her face.

Maya just smiled, still too young to understand what had just happened.

Another year passed, and Maya was now four years old. Martha had noticed that Maya had an uncanny ability to predict the weather. Whenever there was a storm coming, Maya would become restless and agitated, as if sensing something that others couldn't. Martha had dismissed it as a coincidence until one day when Maya predicted the death of her friend.

One sunny afternoon, Martha was sitting on the porch swing, enjoying a respite from her daily chores. Maya sat beside her, engrossed in her favorite picture book. Out of the blue, Maya looked up, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

"Mommy, your friend Sarah won't be with us for long," Maya whispered, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

Martha's heart skipped a beat as she stared at her daughter, her eyes welling up with a mix of fear and curiosity. She couldn't comprehend how a four-year-old could comprehend the fragility of life in such a profound way. The foreboding in Maya's voice shook her to the core.

Later that day, Martha received a phone call from her friend's mother. Her friend had been in a car accident and had passed away.

Martha was devastated. She couldn't believe that Maya had somehow known what was going to happen. She sat down with Maya and asked her how she knew.

"I saw it, Mommy. I saw it in my head," Maya said, matter-of-factly.

* * * *

Martha's heart raced as she made her way to her mother's room. It had been weeks since she discovered her daughter Maya's extraordinary abilities, and she could no longer keep it a secret. As she reached her mother's door, she took a deep breath and gently knocked.

A soft voice from inside responded, "Come in, my dear."

Martha entered cautiously, taking in the familiar room that held so many childhood memories. Her mother, a wise and gentle woman, sat in a cozy armchair near the window, the soft glow of the afternoon sunlight casting a warm embrace around her.

Sitting beside her mother on the plush, patterned cushion of the armchair, Martha felt a wave of comfort wash over her. She knew her mother's love and guidance would help navigate this uncharted territory.

With trembling hands, Martha began, "Mom, I need to talk to you about something... something that has been weighing heavily on me."

Her mother, ever serene, listened attentively, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity. Martha took a deep breath and continued, "Maya... our precious Maya... she has a gift."

Her mother's features softened as she searched Martha's face for truth. "A gift? What kind of gift?"

Martha hesitated, unsure of how to articulate her daughter's extraordinary abilities. Finally, she found the words, "It's... it's hard to explain. Maya can see things... things that haven't happened yet. And sometimes, when she touches people, she can sense things about them, their past or their future."

Her mother's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and understanding. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on Martha's shoulder, grounding her in a gentle touch that radiated trust and reassurance. "Martha, dear, our family possesses a bloodline. A bloodline that occasionally bestows unique gifts upon its members. It is rare, but it is special. And it always happens for a reason."

Martha's breath caught in her throat, her mind swirling with questions and uncertainties. "What... what do you mean, Mom? What should I do?"

Her mother's voice was filled with love and unwavering support as she explained, "What I mean, my dear, is that Maya's gift is important. It is something she was born with for a purpose. As her mother, it is your role to help her understand and embrace this gift fully.

Martha's eyes widened, absorbing her mother's words, her heart swelled with a mix of awe and responsibility. She nodded, taking in the weight of her mother's wisdom. "I understand, Mom. It's my duty to guide Maya and help her harness the fullness of her gift."

Her mother smiled warmly, her weathered hands still resting gently on Martha's shoulder. "Yes, my dear. Together, we will uncover the depths of Maya's abilities and find a way for her to use them for the greater good."