Cursed by Love

could explain-just a feeling, like I didn't quite fit in. But I never imag

ighteen is a fresh start, a new chapter. But for me, the day didn't feel like a celebration. There was a st

he corner. They looked out of place in my small, quiet room. I should've been downstairs, smiling with my mom and maybe

t there was something strange about it. The red in the sky was too deep, too dark, almost like the sky it

the window. Maybe I was just overthinking it. Maybe it was j

d from downstairs. "Dinner's

my shoulders, and my brown eyes stared back at me with a familiar look of uncertainty. My

n, even though I didn't believe it. "It's just y

mom loved to cook pasta on special occasions, and birthdays were no exception. I stepped into the kitchen, where she

e table where the pasta sat in a big bowl. "I made y

e and sat down. "Thanks

closely as I took a bite. "You

with my fork. "I'm fine. Just...

sked, her face gro

couldn't even explain what was bothering me. "I don't know

sh it. "Well, if you ever

g to sound more upbeat.

been acting like this for days, like she was waiting for so

as a quiet evening, but that strange feeling in my chest didn't go aw

t I couldn't focus. My eyes kept drifting to the window, where the moon was now h

that something was coming,

dnight, every

utched my chest, falling to my knees beside the bed. The room spun around me, and I felt like I c

whispered, though no o

s raised toward the sky. She was chanting something, a spell, but I couldn't understand the words. Then I saw her face-my face

ng chased by a group of men. They were shouting, calling her a witch

out, but my voice barely made a sound. And then, just as suddenly as it had started

ad just happened? What did I see? I knew, deep down, that

ling. I stared at my reflection, half-expecting to see the woma

't just brown anymore. A faint glow surrounded my pup

pered, leaning cl

heard the vo

al

shadows near my window, tall and still. I couldn't s

come