Put a Spotlight On Me

SELEN got off her bicycle and knocked at the door, carrying a jar with concoction on the other hand. A few minutes went by… Still, no one opens the door for her. She heaved a sigh and sat on the doorstep. Maybe the client was still fast asleep. She laid the jar beside her and propped her hands on her chin as she looked up at the sky, watching the break of dawn.

It was too early in the morning, too cold it would make you wish to stay on the bed. But Selen woke up every day even before the rooster makes that cock-a-doodle-sound. She was her grandma’s only errand girl. No matter how cold it was, she had to put on her cardigan, get on her bike, and deliver the concoction to every client wherever they are.

Selen wondered how many more minutes she had to wait until someone opens the door for her. If only she could sneak inside. But that’s a little risky and tricky.

She yawned. “Gah! I want to go back to sleep.”

She closed her eyes slowly. The wind swooshed, and she heard the dry leaves on the ground rustled. Selen could not help but smile. She always finds it entertaining to listen to the sound of nature. It seemed to heal her soul. Then, she heard the door creaked. She grabbed the jar and stood up immediately. A woman in her late forties greeted Selen.

They bowed their heads at each other. And then, she handed the woman the jar of concoction.

With trembling hands, the woman accepted the jar and looked at her. She could see the cloud of worry in the woman’s eyes as she stared back at her.

“A-ah… I almost forgot.” She fished a note in her cardigan’s pocket. “This is the prescription on how to take the concoction.”

“Thank you, Miss,” the woman said somberly.

“You’re welcome…” She heaved a deep sigh.

“Wait for a while. I’ll go get the payment.”

Selen waited again, but unlike before, it only took the woman approximately two minutes to come back.

“Here…” She handed Selen a small brown envelope.

She took it quickly and securely placed it in her pocket.

“If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us.”

The woman grabbed her by the arm when she was about to turn around and leave. “Y-yes?”

“Would it really cure my husband?” the woman asked in a hoarse voice.

Selen caught the woman’s hands and pressed them gently.

“Our family’s into this business even before I was born. Every client was satisfied with our service,” she assured the woman.

“My husband has been in pain for two years now. No one could cure him in the hospital. The doctors didn’t know what’s wrong with him.” The woman started crying.

“The concoction will help him regain his strength. Soon, my grandmas would be able to break the spell.” She patted the woman’s arm.

Selen came from a lineage of white witches. Her grandmas fight the spells of the evil witches that harm people. They make concoctions to heal those who could not be treated in a hospital. And sometimes, they make love potions for the desperate ones.

“I… have to leave.”

She got on her bicycle and looked back. The woman remained standing by the door, watching her.

Selen started pedaling away.

VIOLY looked at the grandfather clock in the living room before strolling to the kitchen. It was past six o’clock in the morning, and yet Selen hasn’t returned from running the errands. Whenever that kid was late, even for a minute, she always felt nervous. Violy could not help but think that Selen ran into trouble.

“Ate Cora, Selen isn’t back yet,” she informed her elder sister.

Cora halted from grinding the garlic and turned to her. “Did you call her?”