Tabby K

Chapter 1

The flapping of the birds’ wings, the cloudless baby blue sky: the day couldn’t have been any more perfect. The pleasant scent of flowers leads a boy to a patch full of pastel purple and white flowers. Eager, the boy leaves a cloud of dust as he sprints towards the flowers.

“These would be perfect!” the boy exclaims as he plucks the flowers for his bouquet.

This is the boy’s first day back in New Amsterdam since he visited his uncle in Rhode Island for the summer. Once the flowers are plucked, the boy mounts his horse and they trot home, unknowing to the information he's about to hear. 

The brown oak floor boards shriek as the boy walks into his family’s cottage. The sound of tears creep through the cottage. The boy tracks down the source of the tears and is surprised when he finds his sister.

“Mary, what happened?” the boy asks his sister.

“It is Mother, she has fallen sick. She is in her room.” Mary says struggling not to cry. 

The boy immediately sprints to his mother’s room. There, he sees his mother lying frail in her bed. How can he help her? Thoughts are spinning around the boy’s mind. When, suddenly, an idea that cannot be ignored pops into his head. The witch. He must go find the witch. 

“Where are you going?” Mary asks.

“Where I have to.” the boy replies.

The boy mounts his horse and begins to ride to the witch’s hut. The gravel crunching underneath the horse’s feet, the cool summer breeze, the green pine trees, the seemingly short ride to the hut appeared like it would never end. When, in the distance the boy spots a small shack in the middle of the woods. His horse begins to gallop quickly toward the hut. The boy hesitates before finally knocking on the door. The door opens.

“Greetings boy.” the witch says.

“Hello Miss Agatha.” the boy says.

“Why don’t you come in, dear?” Agatha asks with her unsettling smile.

The boy enters the witch Agatha’s house and discusses what has happened and his request.

“I will help your mother–” Agatha begins saying

“Thank you!” the boy exclaims.

“— under certain circumstances.” she says annoyed.

“I’ll do anything!” the boy begs.

“Anything?” the witch says slyly. 

The boy nods.

The witch cackles, then says, “I sentence you to ride up and down this path for all of eternity. You shall not be able to interfere and will only be able to watch. All memories of your existence will be erased. People will see you but they will have no memory of you. This curse will only be broken once someone mentions you riding down the path. You will never be hungry, have to use an outhouse, or be tired. ” 

A gust of wind rushes through the cramped hut and the boy knows his life will never be the same.

Chapter 2

“Th-thank you.” the boy stammers, worried.

The boy exits the shack, mounts his horse, and rides down the path. It looks the same, but everything is different. He rides past his house, and through the window, he sees his mother and sister cooking. As much as he wants to, he cannot get off his horse, speed inside, and embrace his family. The boy understands he is never going to interact with someone again. 

Riding down the same street 24 hours a day for eternity. The same scenery, the same routine. The ride down the road takes around 20 minutes. The first few days appeared like they would never end. But, before he knew it, it was winter. The evergreen pine trees still were as green as he remembered, but the frigid air and cloud white snow made the small town seem abandoned. 

The next few days seemed to last only a minute. A minute of sadness. A minute of silence.

I was there

Even though they never saw me come in

I see all

When they just stare mindlessly

I am not gone, but still there