**An Unforgettable Celebration: The Return of the Restaurant**
Emma returned home with her husband, David, after dining at a posh restaurant in London to celebrate her birthday. The evening had been splendidpacked with relatives, colleagues, and friends. Many were strangers to Emma, but if David had invited them, he mustve had his reasons.
Emma wasnt one to question her husbands choices. She loathed arguments and found it easier to agree than to prove a point.
«Emma, do you have the flat keys handy? Could you fetch them?»
She rummaged through her handbag, searching for the keys, when a sharp pain shot through her finger. She jerked her hand back, sending her bag tumbling to the pavement.
«Whats wrong?» David asked.
«Something pricked me.»
«With that mess in your bag, Im not surprised.»
Emma didnt argue. She picked up her bag, carefully retrieved the keys, and they stepped inside. The incident faded from her mindshe was exhausted, her feet ached, and all she wanted was a hot shower and bed.
The next morning, she woke to a throbbing, swollen finger. Remembering the night before, she searched her bag and found a large, rusted needle buried at the bottom.
«What on earth…?»
She couldnt fathom how it got there. After tossing it, she bandaged the wound and headed to work. By midday, fever gripped her. She called David.
«David, I feel awful. Fever, headache, body acheslike Ive been beaten. I found a rusted needle in my bag.»
«You should see a doctor. Could be tetanus or worse.»
«Dont fuss. I cleaned it. Ill be fine.»
Yet hour by hour, she worsened. Barely finishing her shift, she hailed a cab home and collapsed onto the sofa, sinking into a deep sleep.
She dreamed of her grandmother, Rose, whod passed when Emma was young. Though she barely remembered her face, she knew it was Rosebent with age but radiating warmth. In the dream, Rose led her through a meadow, pointing out herbs for a healing tea to purge the darkness festering inside. She warned Emma that someone wished her harm, but to confront it, she had to survive. Time was short.
Emma woke drenched in cold sweat. Only minutes had passed. The door clickedDavid returning. He took one look at her and paled.
«Blimey, Emlook at yourself.»
She staggered to the mirror. The reflection wasnt hersa gaunt, hollow-eyed stranger stared back.
«Whats happening to me?»
Then she recalled the dream. «David, I saw Nan. She told me what to do»
«Emma, get dressed. Were going to hospital.»
«No. Nan said doctors cant help me.»
Their first real row erupted. David called her mad for trusting a dream, even grabbing her arm to drag her out.
«If you wont go willingly, Ill make you.»
She wrenched free, stumbling into a corner. David snatched his coat, slammed the door, and left. Weakly, Emma texted her boss, pleading sick leave.
David returned near midnight, apologising, but Emma only whispered, «Take me to Nans village tomorrow.»
By morning, she was ghostly pale. David begged, «Em, dont be daft. Lets go to hospital. I cant lose you.»
Yet they drove to the countryside. Emma slept most of the way but stirred as they neared the village, pointing weakly. «There.»
She collapsed onto the grass but gathered the herbs from her dream. Back home, David brewed the tea. With each sip, strength trickled back. Later, in the loo, she saw blackened urine. Instead of panic, she murmured, «The darkness is leaving…»
That night, Rose returned in her dreams. The rusted needle had been a curse. The tea bought time, but Emma had to uncover the culpritand David was somehow involved.
«Buy sewing needles,» Rose instructed. «Recite this over the largest: *Spirits of night, hear my plight. Reveal the foe who seeks my blight.* Hide it in Davids bag. Whoever pricks themselves is your betrayer.»
Emma obeyed. When David returned from work, she asked casually, «How was your day?»
«Fine. Why?»
Just as she doubted her plan, he added, «Odd thingIrina from accounting tried helping me with my papers, jabbed herself on a needle in my bag. Went spare, she did.»
«Whos Irina?»
«Just a colleague.»
«Was she at my birthday dinner?»
«Yeah. So?»
The pieces fell into place.
That night, Rose taught Emma how to reverse the curse. Irina had used dark magic to eliminate her rival for Davids affection. Days later, David mentioned Irina was on medical leavedoctors baffled by her sudden illness.
Emma visited Roses grave in the village churchyard, clearing weeds and laying flowers.
«Sorry I stayed away, Nan. I thought Mums visits were enough. But Ill come more now. You saved my life.»
A gentle breeze brushed her shoulderslike an embrace. When she turned, no one was there.
**Lesson learned: Some bonds outlast death, and some sins return to their sender. Emma smiled through tears, bowing her head. «Thank you,» she whispered. The wind stilled, the air warm and still around her, as if the earth itself was listening. She stood, brushed the dirt from her knees, and walked slowly back to the car, the sun breaking through the clouds behind her.
