**An Unforgettable Celebration: The Return of the Restaurant**
Emma was walking home with her husband, James, after celebrating her birthday at a lovely restaurant. The evening had been wonderfulfilled with friends, family, and colleagues. Some were faces Emma had never seen before, but if James had invited them, there must have been a reason.
Emma wasnt one to question her husbands choices. She hated arguments and confrontation, finding it easier to agree than to prove herself right.
«Emma, do you have the flat keys handy? Can you grab them?»
She opened her handbag, rummaging for the keys, when suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her finger. She jerked her hand back so violently that the bag tumbled to the pavement.
«Whats wrong?» James asked.
«Something pricked me.»
«Your bags a messhardly surprising.»
Emma didnt argue. She picked it up, carefully retrieved the keys, and they stepped inside. By then, shed already forgotten the sting. Exhausted, her feet aching, all she wanted was a shower and bed.
The next morning, she woke to a throbbing pain in her finger, now red and swollen. She remembered last night and searched her bag thoroughly. At the bottom lay a large, rusted needle.
«What on earth?»
She couldnt fathom how it got there. Disposing of it, she dug out the first-aid kit to clean the wound. After bandaging her finger, she left for workbut by midday, fever had taken hold.
She called James.
«James, I dont feel right. Ive got a fever, my heads pounding, and my body aches as if Ive been beaten. I found a rusty needle in my bag.»
«Maybe you should see a doctor. Could be tetanusor worse.»
«Dont worry. Ive cleaned it. Itll be fine.»
But instead of improving, she worsened by the hour. Barely making it through the day, she hailed a cab home, collapsing onto the sofa in a deep sleep.
She dreamt of her grandmother, Mary, whod passed when Emma was little. Though she barely remembered her face, she somehow knew it was her. Frail yet kind, her grandmother led her through a meadow, pointing out herbs for a tea that would purge the darkness inside her. She warned that someone wished Emma harmbut to face them, she first had to survive. Time was running out.
Emma woke in a cold sweat. Shed only slept minutes. The front door openedJames. His face paled.
«Whats happened to you? Look in the mirror.»
She did. Yesterday, shed seen a bright, smiling woman. Now, tangled hair, hollow eyes, and pallid skin stared back.
«Whats going on?»
Then she recalled the dream.
«My grandmother came to me. She told me what to do»
«Emma, get dressed. Were going to hospital.»
«No. She said doctors cant help me.»
A furious row erupted. James called her mad for trusting a dream. He even tried dragging her out, gripping her arm.
«If you wont go willingly, Ill make you.»
She wrenched free, stumbling and hitting the edge of a table. James stormed out, slamming the door. Emma messaged her boss, pleading sick leave.
James returned near midnight, apologising, but Emma only said,
«Take me to my grandmothers village tomorrow.»
By morning, she looked more corpse than woman. James begged,
«Emma, dont be daft. Lets go to hospital. I cant lose you.»
But they drove to the village. Emma dozed until they neared the outskirts, then pointed.
«That way.»
Staggering from the car, she collapsed onto the grassyet she knew this was the place from her dream. She found the herbs, and they returned home. James brewed the remedy as instructed. Sipping it slowly, she felt a flicker of strength.
Struggling to the bathroom, she saw her urine was black. Instead of panic, she whispered,
«The darkness is leaving»
That night, her grandmother returned. The rusted needle had been a curse. The remedy was temporaryEmma had to uncover whod done this and return their malice. Her grandmother admitted she didnt know who, but James was involved. If only Emma hadnt thrown the needle away
«Do this: buy a box of needles. Recite this over the largest: *Spirits of night, before you rest, hear me, ghosts of darkness, reveal the truth. Surround me, point the way, help me find my foe* Place it in Jamess bag. Whoever harmed you will prick themselves. Then well know.»
With that, her grandmother faded like mist.
Emma woke weaker but hopeful. James stayed home, fussing until she insisted on shopping alone.
«James, make me soup. Im starving after this bug.»
That night, she slipped the needle into his bag. Before bed, he asked,
«Sure youll be alright? Want me to stay?»
«Ill manage.»
The next evening, she greeted him eagerly.
«How was your day?»
«Fine. Why?»
Just as she thought nothing had happened, James added,
«Odd thingIrina from the next department tried helping me with my keys today. Reached into my bag and pricked herself on a needle. She was livid.»
«Whats between you and Irina?»
«Emma, please. I love only you. Irinas just a colleague.»
«Was she at the restaurant?»
«Yes, but thats all.»
Everything clicked. Emma understood how the needle had ended up in her bag.
Later, her grandmother returned in a dream, explaining how to turn Irinas malice back on her. The woman had used dark magic to eliminate her rival. If Emma didnt act, she wouldnt stop.
She followed every instruction. Soon after, James mentioned Irina was on sick leavedoctors baffled by her sudden illness.
That weekend, Emma asked James to drive her to her grandmothers village cemetery. She bought flowers and gloves, tidying Marys grave with care. Finding the headstone, she saw the same kind face from her dreamsthe one that had saved her.
«Grandma, forgive me for not visiting sooner. I thought once a year with Mum and Dad was enough. I was wrong. Ill come more often. If not for you, Id be gone.»
A gentle breeze brushed her shoulderslike an embrace. When she turned, no one was there. Only the whisper of leaves.
