I am very late with this, but it’s Writer’s Island time again.
The prompt this week is - spellbound.
Here’s my little tale…..
I did it because I thought it existed. Deep in your heart. A love for me. It never occurred to me that when it was done your eyes would look towards me but your heart would look away.
She sat at a little wooden table on the corner of the street, draped in a long crimson scarf that could have been a cape, selling love potions with pleading eyes. I bought the little bag made of black velvet, tied with a scarlet ribbon mainly because I felt sorry for her. I figured that maybe she was close to being destitute or homeless.
The potion cost just five dollars. There was a queue. Those potions were selling fast. Seems everyone wanted a jumpstart to love.
The scarved lady handed me the bag; her fingers were cold. I felt bad she had been sitting in the chill air for so long. ‘Put this under his pillow and make a wish.’ Our eyes met. I felt her fingers clutching at my throat even though I was standing at least three or four feet away. I recoiled, afraid, throwing her money onto the table.
‘Be careful what you wish for,’ she called after me as I ran down the street.
The bag was heavy in my hand. My fingers twitched like they were being pressed with rocks. I thought more than once that I should throw the bag away but the lure of it drew me. I had a strange desire to follow through with it, to see if it would work.
When I got home you were in the shower. I rushed to the bedroom, furtive as a mother hiding a Christmas present from her child, plunging the velvet bag under the soft recesses of your pillow. ‘I wish that you will never leave me,’ I whispered.
The night was humid, thick with torpor. I wavered between nausea and elation. A light rain began to fall at dawn, more tender than tears.
You were attentive that morning, organising after-work activities, dinner, commenting favourably on my appearance. You made plans to return home an hour earlier than usual, cancelling your soccer game. Your attentiveness was unmatched for over a month. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
Then one day I found it. A letter written to me. On the same day I bought the love potion. On the same day I cast the spell.
I am fond of you, it said. But I love another. She is my heart. She needs me. She is having my child. I want to leave you so I can be with her but I am afraid to tell you to your face. I am afraid you will make a scene. I am afraid you will beg me not to leave you.
A parcel arrived that afternoon. Addressed to you in a childlike hand. It contained a photograph. An ultrasound of a tiny baby. A girl. I saw her little face like a shell looking at me. Beseeching me. There was a note. When will you come? It said.
I asked you about it. About the baby. You were non-commital, almost angry. ‘It doesn’t matter any more,’ you said then turned to gaze out the window.
For days you wouldn’t eat or sleep or go to work. I considered calling the doctor or enlisting the help of your friends but you resisted. ‘I don’t need anyone but you,’ you said, but your words were emotionless, slapping me in the face.
I went to see the girl, the mother of your child. I knew immediately why you loved her. I knew with a surety I had never before experienced that you were meant to be together.
‘Go to her,’ I urged. ‘She is waiting.’
‘I will never leave you,’ you replied. ‘Not ever.’
I ran to the streetcorner where the scarved lady had been. Seeking a remedy. She was gone. I asked passersby if they had seen her. They regarded me with suspicion.
I returned home. You were sitting on the bed plucking your hair out strand by strand. The phone was off the hook. I redialled the last number called. It was your girl. Your love.
‘Go to her,’ I cried. ‘I am begging you.’
‘I can never leave you,’ you said.
We sat in that room for hours, days, weeks. The nights crushed us like bitter memories. You grew wan, listless. Soon you could barely speak but you would not leave my side and I knew with the shock of revelation that you were spellbound.
Longing to leave. Bound to stay. We sit in this unforgiving room like subjects in a gruesome still life. Cast on rocks that cut us in two. How could I think I could make you love me when you don’t?
Be careful what you wish for. The words taunt me whenever I catch sight of the dull pain in your eyes. I got what I wanted. You will never leave me. And I will never be free.
eeeeeww! Reminds me of “something wicked this way comes”.
A good reminder, seriously, to be careful what we with for!
Ouch.
Beautifully done as usual Selma!
That’s the trouble with spells, with wishes. Getting what you want can be hell.
An excellent story.
This was wonderful. It will probably give me nightmares, but I can’t help loving it. oooh! chills! (and my brain is screaming, “burn the damn bag!” My brain is odd that way).
Excellent story!
Good stuff!
Holy crap - you’re good. I must must must must start writing again - ooo, deja vu!
GROOVY - my Grandmother always told me to precisely word my wishes. The spirits of the air interpret wishes literally it would seem.
BRITT - thanks so much. I was inspired to write this by a friend of mine who always says of the men in her life : ‘ I wish he would love me this way, or that way.’ I have often wondered what would happen if her wishes came true.
ANTHONY - gotta watch those wishes. They have a power of their own.
KAREN - I wish she’d burned the bag too. What was she thinking?
TUMBLEWORDS - awww, thanks!
JONAS - you are very kind to say so.
BEC - why not join me at Writer’s Island? It’s a great place to start. Would love to see you there. I suspect you actually might be a bit good at this writing caper…..
Really good twist on the old story. They’re gonna go nuts together - creepy.
Eek!! I got the heebie jeebies and all worked up!
i threw together a quick piece of flash fiction based on your idea for my entry for two for tuesdays,,, and i thought you might want to have a look at it….
three drops
thank you for the glorious inspiration… it had eluded me all day!!!!
I knew there was something wrong with the potion when I saw the price! LOL.
This was creative. I enjoyed it.
Wow! Wonderful. “Be careful what you wish for”. So true.
RICHARD - I love that as an ending. They’re going to go crazy together. Brilliant. Thanks for visiting.
MOMO FALI - awww, I am really touched you stopped by. Thank you so much.
PAISLEY - if I can succeed in inspiring you - a writer I really admire - then my work here is done. I’m coming to check it out right now.
CORINA - you are lovely to visit. I agree, beware of bargain basement priced potions!
CONSTANCE - makes me glad that some of the things I have wished for over the years like fame, fortune, glory, have never come true. There probably would have been a catch!
This story has the most incredible power of mystery, magic and reality.
It is indeed “spellbinding”!
Your writing has me as spellbound as ever Selma.
AWESOME job. WOW. I am in love with the way you write.
oh, man, this was fantastic! loved it, loved it, loved it……be careful what you wish for is right.
“It never occurred to me that when it was done your eyes would look towards me but your heart would look away.” How sadly, yet perfectly said. I liked this line the most.
Wow wow wow. Even better than my last favorite - Vampyres - which apparently indicates a dark side to me.
Uck uck uck - be careful what you wish for. Now THOSE words will haunt me!
Marvelous spellbinding job, Selma!!
Oh my! I’m so glad I’m not her - very well done!
This is a brilliant story … as is your writing. Your story reminded me of a game I used to play with friends. One person would come up with a wish and the rest of us would grant the wish, but always with a twist and unintended consequences. It made me realise to be very careful when I made a wish.
GREYSCALE - I really appreciate your comment. Thank you so much.
GYPSY - you are a true sweetie!
MELEAH - your support from the very beginning has given me the confidence to keep posting my stuff. I am really grateful.
REBECCA - I am really delighted you liked it. I very much value your opinion.
NANNA - I like the dark stuff too. I find it easier to write than the other stuff which probably means a shrink would have a field day with me.
TEXASBLU - thanks so much for visiting and for your kind comment.
KATE - that is a great game. I’m sure you came up with some wonderful stories!
Oh Selma, you have a gift!
NECTARFIZZ - you are incredibly kind. Thank you!