Chapter 26

"I can't spend another day like this, Dan. I can feel it; I'm losing my mind," I shouted as I grabbed the end of his jacket in frustration. I heard him sigh as he pulled me into a hug. I pushed him away, almost feeling the disappointing words he was about to tell me.

"Emerald, we can't take risks like travelling with you in this state. What if my mother and her men attack us? Who will look after you?" he said, his voice quivering at the end. Is this man scared of his mother?

"Are you scared of your mother? You sound like you are." I said, taunting him, At this point, I've had enough of being blind.

"I'm not scared of her, I'm just scared for you." He said as he brushed my arm. We were sitting in the bed, I staring into the darkness, and he was probably staring at the wall. "I know someone that we can take her to," Tyson said as he walked inside the room. He has been visiting more often, and as annoying as he usually is, he's been very helpful.

"What kind of person?" Dan asked immediately, probably suspicious of Tyson. "Does it matter what kind of person it is if they are going to help me? Tyson, when can we leave?" I've had enough of this. "We can leave now." Tyson said softly, "But this is a witch, Em. So this person might unlock a part of you that you don't know or don't even like." I nodded, understanding the situation. "I don't even care about the after effects, Tyson. I just need to see, so I can carry on with my life."

I was about to say something when, all of a sudden, this bright light appeared in front of me, and an old woman stepped into the light with a smile on her face. "Who are you?" I asked, trying to move as she walked towards me, but I was glued to the bed; it was like I didn't have control of my body. "Emerald, who are you talking to?" I heard Tyson's voice asking in a panic, my heart thumped against my chest, fearful that I was losing my mind.

"You need to embrace your past so things can go well in your journey." She said, still with the unwithering smile on her face. I looked at her, creeped out. She wore a long white dress and a doek on her head. "What are you talking about?" I asked but received no answer. A sudden thought came to mind. "Do you know my father?" Her smile widened at my question, and she softly nodded, "Can I see him?"

"Your father is my grandson, and you can't see him, dear." My heart ached, I miss him so much, even five seconds with him would mean a lot to me. "Why is it that I can see you but not other people?" She turned and slowly walked back to the light, and it dimmed as she walked further. "Wait, you didn't answer my question." She continued ignoring my cries. "Emerald," I blinked profusely as Dan continued calling my name, frustrating me further. I squealed in happiness as I saw light coming from the window through my now seeing eyes. I wouldn't even be able to express how happy I felt in that moment.

That woman was here to set me free. I wish I had the chance to thank her for freeing me. I judged her so quickly; she's an ancestor who came to save her great-granddaughter. "Emerald, calm down and tell us what's wrong! Stop screaming." I laughed in happiness as I held Dan’s face in my hands, feeling like it had been forever since I last saw him.

“I can see.” Dan immediately hugged, and the worried look disappeared from his face. He spun me around. “That's great news,” Tyson said awkwardly. He probably feels too awkward to hug me now that my bump is showing. “I still think we should go and see someone who can maybe tell us more about what's happening to you.” I nodded my head and turned to look at Dan, and he smiled back at me. “We can go see that person. Only if you are sure about your decision,” I nodded once more, feeling confident about my decision.

“I need to think about my future now, not only about myself,” I said as I softly placed my hand on my baby bump. I squealed in shock and excitement as I felt a small, powerful kick. “I think the baby just kicked me.” Dan stared at me with an uneasy look on his face. When he noticed me staring, he tried to smile, but it only looked like a grimace. “I will wait in the car,” Tyson said immediately, feeling the awkwardness as he walked out of the room.

“Why are you being like this? I feel like you are not supporting me, you can’t even smile that our baby is kicking.” I blurted out to Dan, feeling hurt and judged, that he might not be the father, but he doesn't know that, so I need his support. “I’m sorry that it feels like I’m not supporting you. I'm just extremely worried about all this change and the toll it’s taking on you.” He held my hand and softly kissed it. I smiled as I pulled my hand away. “I need to get dressed. Please make me a tuna sandwich, I am extremely hungry.” I quickly got into the shower, dried myself, and put on a sweatshirt and comfortable pants.

"Please wear something to cover your bump, we might run into someone from the news and I don't want this on the papers yet, we have to avoid it getting out as much as we can," Dan said as he placed my tuna sandwhich on the side of the bed, I went to the closet and took out an oversized sweater, feeling a bit disappointed because I wanted to touch and be proud of my baby bump. "I'm sorry, but the media is ruthless. You will show off soon enough, okay." I nodded again, feeling like I didn't have the energy to argue with him. I ate my sandwich, and we got into the car and started driving to the witch that Tyson recommended.

We drove a few hours, and I was starting to panic until Tyson started driving onto a small gravel road, approaching a forest with not even a single house or living thing. "Are you sure she lives here?" I asked warily, the last thing I would do is trust Tyson with my life. "Yes, her house will appear any moment now." Immediately after he said that, a small cabin showed up on the hill. I sighed in relief that it turned out they weren't plotting my death.

"There it is," Tyson said, gesturing to the cabin. A petite woman immediately emerged from the house and stood outside with her hands on her back. As the car parked in front of the cabin, I noticed she did not look happy to see us. "She doesn't look too happy to see us." I pointed out, my heart thumping against my chest. We got out of the car, and she remained standing there quietly, staring at me without saying anything, even after Tyson greeted her. "You need to leave." The woman said, staring at me, her stare not wavering. "What? Why?" Tyson asked, I stared back at her, a part of me angry that we drove this, and a part of me scared that something bad was about to happen. Why would a witch chase us out of her house?

“You brought a curse to my home! Leave.”