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Challenge of the Month II
The Gift. Write the story of a gift, passed from one hand to another. Perhaps it is a heart-warming gesture of kindness and goodwill. Or perhaps it is something more foreboding, more sinister. Perhaps it is a simple, material object. Or perhaps it is something more amorphous, more esoteric. Whatever it is, it must be a gift. Fiction or non-fiction, poetry or Prose.
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Nyctophile
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My upcoming duty

“You must never look them in the eyes, remember, no matter how much they try to grab your attention don’t fall for their trap” Her last words filled my ears, as her bloody hand left my cheek leaving a stamp.

Her eyes stared ahead to the unknown horizon then slowly shut down while a little smile appeared as if her soul was finally in peace. I froze there with her between my arms, hot tears rolling down my cheek, breathing every last second with her.

They pulled my arm, I clung to her, they pulled harder and I let go. Her figure laid peacefully while I was dragged out and it finally disappeared as the building fully collapsed in a rageous chaos followed by a deadly silence, which I pierced after realizing that I lost my grandmother forever.

The next few days were horrible, our devastating house was filled with deadly silence, no one dared to speak a word or talk about what happened, no one even approached me or comfort me. I couldn’t blame them, I was afraid of myself too, this burden that I had to carry was shattering everyone.

We called it a gift, it was a gift indeed, but over the years, it brought nothing but misery to our household.

Today was the fifth day after the incident. I sat on the edge of my window watching raindrops race down as the splashing sound of water filled my ears. It was still early in the morning, the street was empty and only the sounds of birds winnowing from far away could be heard.

“Karlene,” my mom suddenly knocked then opened the door. “I think we should talk sweety.”

Finally, after five days my mom came to see me, she made herself comfortable on my bed, then patted the spot next to her so I sat as she took my hand between hers.

“Sweety, your grandmother is gone and we can’t do anything about it, we can only continue living, and you Karlene you must accept your destiny, your grandma handed you her gift and you must honor that.”

“But … i’m scared ...” Salty drops fall from my chin, drenching my shirt as I let my walls tremble down.

“There’s nothing to be scared of , the lost souls are harmless , they only need guidance so they could rest in peace, and you always have us by your side , your brother and I will offer you all the help we can give”

She wiped my tears and started patting my back then unexpectedly pulled away “Karlene, you must remember the rules too, don’t freak out when they suddenly appear and don’t ...”

“Look them in the eyes during their passage to the other side or they would manipulate me and take over my soul , I know ”

She kissed my hands and then stood up, I wanted her to stay, to take me in her arms more but my mom was never the gentle type of person. I went back to my spot next to the window but this time I opened it letting my hand out, the cold water rested on my palm sending shivers to my body, soothing my tense and calming my nerves as I let my mind adapt the new challenges that I had to face.

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