"The Haunted Woman"(Joshua Swinney) The Haunted Woman

She always wore black, from head to toe. She had long black hair that covered her face, and a black veil that hid her eyes. She never spoke, never smiled, never showed any emotion. She was a mystery to everyone who saw her.

She lived in a small apartment in the city, alone and isolated. She never had any visitors, never went out, never made any friends. She only left her apartment once a week, on Friday nights, to buy some groceries and essentials. She always took the same route, walked the same streets, avoided the same people.

She was haunted by her past, by the memories that tormented her every night. She had a secret that she could never reveal, a secret that had ruined her life. A secret that had made her a fugitive.

She was a witch.

She had been born with a rare gift, the ability to manipulate the elements. She could control fire, water, earth, and air with her mind. She could create wonders and miracles with her power. She could also cause destruction and chaos.

She had discovered her gift when she was a child, and she had used it for good. She had helped people in need, healed the sick, protected the weak. She had been loved and admired by many, feared and envied by some.

But then, everything changed.

She fell in love with a man who was not like her. He was a normal human, without any magic. He was kind and gentle, handsome and charming. He made her happy, he made her feel alive.

They got married, and they had a son. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. He had his father’s eyes, and his mother’s hair. He also had his mother’s gift.

He was a witch too.

She was overjoyed, and she taught him how to use his power. She showed him how to create fireballs, water bubbles, earth walls, and air currents. She told him to use his gift for good, to help others, to make the world a better place.

But he didn’t listen.

He used his gift for evil, for selfishness, for greed. He hurt people, stole things, caused trouble. He enjoyed his power, he abused it.

He became a monster.

She tried to stop him, to reason with him, to change him. But he wouldn’t listen. He hated her, he blamed her, he cursed her.

He tried to kill her.

He attacked her with his power, with his fireballs, water bubbles, earth walls, and air currents. He wanted to destroy her, to end her life.

She fought back with her power, with her fireballs, water bubbles, earth walls, and air currents. She wanted to save him, to redeem him, to love him.

But she failed.

She killed him.

She killed her son.

She killed the only person she loved more than herself.

She killed the only person who shared her gift.

She killed the only person who understood her.

She killed the only person who made her happy.

She killed the only person who made her feel alive.

She killed him by accident.

She killed him in self-defense.

She killed him in despair.

She killed him in horror.

She killed him in grief.

She killed him in guilt.

She killed him in regret.

She killed him in agony.

She killed him in silence.

She killed him in blackness.

And then she ran away.

She ran away from the scene of the crime, from the blood and the ashes, from the screams and the sirens. She ran away from the law and the justice, from the trial and the verdict. She ran away from the hate and the fear, from the blame and the shame. She ran away from the pain and the sorrow, from the loss and the grief. She ran away from herself and her past.

She ran away forever.

And she became a haunted woman.

A woman who always wore black.

A woman who never spoke or smiled or showed any emotion.

A woman who lived alone and isolated in a small apartment in the city.

A woman who only left her apartment once a week on Friday nights to buy some groceries and essentials.

A woman who always took the same route, walked the same streets, avoided the same people

A woman who was haunted by her past, by the memories that tormented her every night

A woman who had a secret that she could never reveal

A woman who was a witch

A woman who had killed her son

The end.

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