Page 9 of A Curse On Black Lake
Mrs. Leonard didn’t know what to do with me, and I didn’t understand what was happening. They told me I had a seizure and called 911. I was in a daze, and in that moment I only wanted my Grams. We have a clinic, but they weren’t sure what to make of me. It takes forever for the ambulance to get out to Black Lake, so my Grams beat them to school. She told my teacher and principal that this was not a medical problem and took me home, despite their pleading.
If anyone could help me, it would be her. People come to the apothecary for all kinds of ailments and issues. They tell her what’s going on, and somehow she knows what they need, like magic. She’s not a witch; she’s in tune with nature. She has always told me witches are different. They are a darkness I should never step toward.
When we got home that day, I finally understood why people were looking at me strangely. All of my hair went from curly to straight, from a dark sable brown to stark white, and light brown to blue eyes.
The next day, Grams officially pulled me out of school and homeschooled me from then on. At first I was mad. I had friends before all of this happened. She claimed it was necessary.
Turned out she was right. It took three months for me to get to a place where I could talk to one Spirit at a time and go to bed with a splitting headache. I was so frustrated and overwhelmed one day I yelled back, and they stopped. Theylistened.
The Spirits are not ghosts, those are separate. The Spirits are almost like Seers of the past. They can’t tell the future, and they aren’t omnipotent, but they can tell me what’s coming when it’s passed onto them.
It took a while for me to accept that they would never leave. I’m much better at handling them, but as an already awkward kid, others didn’t want to be around me anymore, and as a teen it was hard to grow up without friends. The assumptions about me as a child followed me into adulthood. What’s the point in trying to correct anyone? They will believe what they want, truth or not.
Eliana 10 Years Old
Grams and I walk into Cricket’s to make our weekly soap delivery. Since I started homeschooling, I’m able to help her more with the apothecary. Now, I don’t simply learn reading, writing, and math. Grams added on to my education of the plants we grow and their medicinal benefits, recipes, and encouraged me to start experimenting with my own. I’ve been learning since I was seven, but she pushes me harder now.
When we go anywhere these days, people stare at me. I pull my cowboy hat further onto my head. My white hair is braided down my back. It’s a little less noticeable that way, but no matter how hard I try, people still talk and point at me as if I’m entertainment in this little town.
You are special, child. People are scared of what they do not understand, what they refuse to see.
I ignore the Spirits and stand off to the side while Grams talks to the store owner. I don’t know why she makes me come here. I’d rather stay at home. But she says we need to get out of the house, interact with others. That would be fine, except they don’t interact with me.
A woman walks past, and the Spirits rise in volume, whispering things about her. I struggle to filter it all because they’re talking at once.
My stomach drops, and I stare at her as she looks at the folded shirts on a table. I take two steps toward her before I can talk myself out of saying a word, but she should know. I wish I knew what was coming the day my parents died in Black Lake.
“Uh, ma’am,” I say.
She doesn’t look up, still flipping through the sizes.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” I say again, louder this time.
She looks up, and her eyes widen on me.
I hurry to tell her what the Spirits have told me, too afraid she might run.
“Do you have an ailing husband?” I ask her.
Her expression drops into utter agony, and it makes my stomach churn, my heart hurt for her.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“I … I wanted to tell you that they told me his suffering will end soon. You won’t have to worry anymore. He will be at peace.”
The woman’s eyes widen on me, and she takes a step away. “How dare you! What a terribly cruel joke. Shame on you, child!” she yells.
I lower my head and step back, blinking rapidly to keep the tears in.
“Eliana, what’s going on?” Grams asks, pulling me behind her.
“They…they told me to tell her,” I tell Grams.
My grandmother looks between me and the woman. “What she told you is true, Anna- Mae. Listen,” she says to Anna-Mae and grabs my arm, pulling me out of the store.
“Flower, you cannot walk up to people and say things like that. Not everyone is ready to hear truths that shatter them. Some people would rather go through life not knowing. Your gift has to be used with care, you have to have the utmost discretion before you tell someone what the Spirits have said to you.”
She stops at the truck and opens the door, placing her bags on the floorboard. “I know this is hard, flower. I know you want to help. But people are cruel in this world. They will try to use your gift against you. Don’t let them, and …be more careful next time,” she says and cups my cheek.
