“Raul…” said Tessa. Her tears dropped down to my shoulder. “I can’t handle this!”
“Do you want me to take you back to my apartment?”
“And do what?” said Tessa, “stay in there forever? Or until the witches come and get me?”
“I don’t mean…” I said. I don’t know what I mean. I don’t know what to think anymore.
“Not sure how much more of this I can take,” said Tessa.
“I’ll be more careful about things like this,” I said, plainly aware of how impossible that would be.
“You can’t block out the world for me, Raul,” she said.
“Is that what you want? To block out everyone’s feelings?”
“Yes… No… I don’t know, Raul! I don’t know. All I know is that I have this pounding headache and all these negative feelings are assaulting my head. If I let up for just a second… If I stop fighting… I might go down a hole I’ll never come out of.”
“I’ll be here to—” but I stopped myself before continuing. Me being here is of no help to her. I can’t do anything to stop Tessa from having these feelings. I’m at a loss.
Tessa cried on my shoulder for what seemed like hours. When Tessa felt ready, we left the storage closet. Elise, swamped between serving food and taking orders, was about to say something, but she held her tongue. I think it was the sight of a cried-out Tessa that did it.
“You can rest for the rest of the day. If you feel like going home, here’s the key.”
“Thanks,” said Tessa. I gave her a mocha, which she slowly cupped between her hands.
When closing time came, Tessa was still at her table. The witch was quiet on her way back, always lagging one or two steps behind me, even after I slowed down to match her pace. After we got to my apartment, I moved a pillow over to the sofa, making it clear that I would give her some space.
“I’m here if you need anything,” I said. We were both in our pajamas and I was exhausted. But for all the energy the crisis took out of me, I couldn’t imagine the kind of pain Don was in. They had no children, no family to call for support.
“Raul,” said Tessa in a sheepish voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“Could you… stay with me tonight?”
“If that’s what you want,” I said. Tessa curled up next to me on the bed. The light brown strands of her hair tickled my nose. I didn’t want to let go of her, but I knew that I needed to. What kind of life was one where she felt threatened by the strong emotion of random people walking on the street.
“How is life in the witch colony with your power?”
“It’s easier,” she said. “Witches don’t have much attachment to anything, not even to each other.”
So that’s it. In that case, Tessa would certainly feel get less attacks. But is that what she wants? I thought about asking her but decided against it.
The next day, the mood at the café was somber. Tessa, Elise, and I tried to work as usual, but it was clear that we were all worried about Julie.
“Do you think she’ll be OK?” said Elise, wiping down one of the tables.
“I hope so,” I said. Tessa said that Julie was as good as gone, but I wanted to hold out some hope. “She’s a fighter.”
“I feel bad for Don too,” she added. “The old man’s grown on me.”
The corded phone of the Twisted Cauldron rang out. The relic was installed when the café first opened two decades ago and hadn’t been touched since. It was pinned to the wall, just a few feet away from the storage closet door.
“Hello?” I said.
“Hello,” said a soft-spoken voice on the other end. I recognized it as Don’s.
“Hi, Don. How’s everything?”
He took a deep breath.
“Julie’s gone, son. She passed. Doctor said the heart attack was quick. My beautiful Julie left without pain. At least… at least that brings me some closure.”
“I’m so sorry, Don. Everyone here at the café is here for you. Is there anything we could do?”
“The funeral service will be held tomorrow,” said Don. “It would mean the world if you all came.”
“We’ll close up early and be there, Don. You can count on it.”
I wrote down the address and told both Elise and Tessa. Elise responded with an “Oh no”, while Tessa looked away. The witch bit her lip and curled her first into a ball.
“It’ll be tomorrow at 11 AM, so we’ll open 8-10 AM and close for the rest of the day,” I said. “Elise, can you make a sign saying as much?”
“Sure, boss,” she said, heading behind the counter to find the small chalkboard.
“Tessa,” I said, lowering my voice so that Elise couldn’t hear. “Would you be OK going? I told Don we would, but I could understand why you wouldn’t want to.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Julie was a friend to me too. I’ll go.”
“Do you know what a funeral service is?”
“When they display the body and everyone gives their last wishes, right?” she said.
“That’s more or less it, yeah,” I said.
“I can handle it.”
That day, the mid-afternoon coffee break tasted far too bitter.
Tessa and I met up with Elise just outside the funeral home. It was an enormous estate, with high-rising white walls and a flush of greenery. I wore a black suit, while Tessa and Elise wore black dresses.
“It’s interesting how funeral homes are so pretty,” said Tessa.
“Kind of ironic, really,” said Elise.
“We ready?” I said to both, but looking specifically at Tessa. The people around us were all mourning. I had my doubts that Tessa would handle it well, but I didn’t say anything.
Dozens of guests mingled over the funeral home’s marble floors. Most were old men and women that I didn’t recognize, but there were some familiar faces. Maria and Alejandra were there, as were the owners of a furniture down the street from the Twisted Cauldron.
“Nice to see you three,” said Maria as I approached her, with Tessa and Elise following behind. “It’s a shame what happened.”
“It really is,” I said.
“Did it happen in your shop?” said Alejandra. “I heard some people talking about it.”
“It did,” said Elise.
“I’m so sorry,” said Maria. “Julie was an amazing woman. The smile never faded from her face.”
“It didn’t,” I said. “She was always happy to help. She was actually the first person I ever served coffee to in the Twisted Cauldron.”
We visited the room where the open casket was. As we waited in line, I could feel Tessa tense up. She brushed her left hand over her right arm. It was obvious that she was struggling.
The crowd in front of us thinned, until we were face-to-face with the casket.
Lying inside was Julie. She was dressed in a brilliant white gown with lace trims. Seeing her, I was reminded of the conversation I had in Elm Park. There, Julie told me how Tessa had given me purpose. How she filled my empty heart and had me falling for her. It was a little harsh, but necessary. Julie gave me the push I needed to court Tessa. For that, a lifetime of thanks would not be enough.
We step outside of the room and into the main vestibule. Don talked with other mourners, his wooden cane firmly rooted on the ground. When he saw us, his gentle eyes lifted up.
“My boy, thank you for coming,” he said.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said, giving the man a hug.
“We’re here for you,” said Elise.
“S-sorry for your loss,” said Tessa.
“I’m sorry it had to happen in your shop.”
“Please don’t worry about that,” I said.
“You know, I never imagined I would outlive my Julie. She always ate her salads and… God, I miss her so much. Sometimes, I close my eyes and picture her right there with me. Why wasn’t it me? Why was she the one taken away?”
A moment of silence followed.
“Look at me, getting all emotional. I’m sure Julie’s having a good laugh at that. She wanted me to give you this,” he said, taking out a circular red pin.
“This is…”
Tessa held her hands open, letting the accessory fall on her palms. It looked expensive and hefty.
“Thank you,” said Tessa. She admired it for a few seconds before putting it away in her pocket. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I assumed that the pin meant something to her.
An old husband and wife pair came to talk to Don.
“We’ll leave you to it,” I said. The three of us stood in the middle of the vestibule, unsure of what to do next.
“Gonna use the restroom,” said Elise.
As soon as Elise left, Tessa tugged at my shirt.
“Everything OK?” I said. Looking at Tessa, however, it was clear that she was struggling. She winced. Her lips quivered, as if speaking a single word was as arduous as walking on a bed of nails.
“I think I’ll go home,” she said.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, it’s fine. Comfort Don any way you can, OK?” she said.
“OK,” I said. “I’ll send you a text message when I head over.”
I handed Tessa the keys to my apartment. She put those in her pocket and took out the ruby pin that Don gave her.
At half-past 5 PM, I sent Tessa a message saying I was on my way back. The funeral home was only a twenty-minute walk from the apartment. I kept checking my phone to see if Tessa would respond, but nothing. She probably went back to sleep.
Climbing up to the hallway of my apartment complex, I noticed something shiny on my door, reflecting the phosphorescent lights hanging from the ceiling. It was only when I was a few feet away that I noticed it was my apartment key.
The door was locked. Already I started getting nervous. Quickly, I unlocked it and peered inside. There was no witch hat inside, nor the witch herself. No Tessa.
What the hell was happening?
I called Tessa’s phone, but it went to voicemail. I called again. Then again. After the fourth call, I gave up trying. I sent her a message asking where she was, then sprinted to the Twisted Cauldron.
Its lights were off. In front of the glass door was the same sign saying we were closing early that day. I pounded on the glass, but no response.
“Tessa,” I shouted as I opened the door. No response. The storage closet was empty as well.
Think, Raul. What happened? Did she decide to take an extended stroll through the park? Was she… kidnapped? Then why would the key be in front of my door.
There was one way to find out. I sprinted back to my apartment. I was half-hoping that she would pop up in the middle of my room, exclaiming “Gotcha!” while having a laughing fit. An invisibility spell I didn’t know about.
But the room was as empty and sad as it was a few minutes ago. I rummaged through the wardrobe, where Tessa had put most of her things. The spots where she kept her clothes were empty. Inside the closet, empty hangers stood where colorful dresses once were. The place had been scrubbed clean of her.
There was no doubt about it: Tessa had been taken back to the witch colony. I called the only person I knew who could do something about it.
“Uncle Joe?” I said.
“Hey, kid.”
“Where is she?”
“Listen, kid. It’s, uh… complicated.”
“Not that hard, Joe. Where is Tessa?”
“The witches took her back to the colony,” he said.
“Wasn’t that supposed to happen in a few more weeks?” I said.
“She told you about that? Anyhow, you’re right. But the witches noticed she went a little out of control yesterday. That’s being generous. She lost it.”
“Sealing her off in the colony isn’t going to fix anything,” I said.
“According to whoever is keeping track of her, Tessa almost died yesterday. Raul, it’s for her own good.”
“Are you in the witch colony now?” I said.
“I’m not, and even if I was I wouldn’t let you in. Why are you so focused on finding her? You knew she was leaving sooner or later.”
“I thought I had a little more time with her. Uncle Joe, I need to see her.”
“And why’s that?” he said. He made no effort to hide how annoyed he was.
“I love her,” I said. “I love Tessa.”
“God, kid… why did you do this to yourself?”
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t fall for a witch. Nothing good ever comes of it.”
“And what makes you say that?” I said.
“What’s her last name?” he said.
“That’s…”
I froze. I didn’t know what Tessa’s last name was. She never told me but I never bothered to ask.
“You sure you’re in love with her, kid? Or are you in love with the idea of having a girlfriend? There’s a difference. Big difference. You should get out more, Raul. Date other girls in the city. But do yourself a favor and forget about her, alright?”
He ended the call before I had a chance to respond. I felt like such a fool. How could I never ask Tessa her name? I acted as if she meant everything to me, but I didn’t bother to ask such an important detail. Was it that I didn’t care?
On top of the dining room table was a slip of paper I hadn’t noticed before. I sat on my sofa and read it.
“Dear Raul,” it started, “thank you for having me at your home for the last few months. Working with you in the Twisted Cauldron was an enriching experience that taught me a lot about life outside of my home, and for that I am eternally grateful. Thanks for everything, Tessa Karrabine”
I read it over and over a dozen times, repeated her last name until it rolled off my tongue. The first thing that struck me was how impersonal the letter was. In no universe did I imagine someone as bouncy and joyful as Tessa writing something so dry. But maybe that was her way of coping with everything. Either she felt nothing for me, or she tried to convince herself that was the case.
Either way, it tore at me. I let Uncle Joe’s words fester in my head, but I couldn’t accept them. Tessa was not some bandage I used to soothe my aching heart. I fell for the way she looked at the world, for the way she carried her herself.
And now she was gone for good.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears dripped down my cheek and into the paper. I was such a mess. I needed to think about the future. To focus my attention on improving the Twisted Cauldron experience. I shouldn’t spend my time moping. And yet the tears flowed.
The paper in my hands glowed a bright blue. The words in the letter morphed into new ones. Amazed, I read on.
“Hi Raul, I’m sorry for writing this letter in such a roundabout way. The witches took my phone and read the letter, so I had to be sneaky. It was also the only spell I could think of to hide my writing in such short notice. So, if you’re reading this, that means you were crying. That’s really sweet.
“The truth is, I miss you too. I don’t want to leave you behind. In fact, I’d give up on ever returning to my home if it meant I could spend my time with you. Before I came to the Twisted Cauldron, I thought that being a witch meant respecting some ancient creed and studying dusty books. It was not a life I felt fit for me.
“But then you came along and changed my perception. I finally understood that being a witch was about understanding those around you. It meant using your magic to help those around you. You also taught me that you didn’t have to use flashy magic to do that. You took care of your little coffee shop and turned it into a place where everyone left with a smile. I saw the way you interacted with others. It wasn’t just Elise or myself, but anyone that walked through those doors. You treated them like family, and I’m so grateful that I got to be a part of that.
“I’ll take all that kindness you showed me and use it for good. I’ll become a witch that you’re proud of. My only regret is that you won’t be
able to see the kind of witch I’ll become in the future. Likewise, I won’t get to see what kind of magic you do with your café. I hope that you’ll find a nice wife one day that will help turn your dreams into a reality. If you make her feel just a tiny bit as happy as you made me, then she would be the luckiest woman alive. Love you, Tessa.”
I wiped away the last of my tears. Tessa’s love was as clear as day on this letter. She poured her soul into writing this. The paper was light, but its words carried a heavy burden.
I read the last part again.
“I love you,” I said aloud, reading the line. “I love you too, Tessa.”
In the end, she said it first.
Damn it, Tessa. I have regrets too. You deserve an answer. I could never live with myself if I didn’t at least give you that.
Which is why I went on my phone and bought a one-way airplane ticket to Maryland.
Chapter 12
“Could you run that by me one more time?” said Elise. I called her on my phone minutes before my plane was set to depart at 7 AM.
“Tessa’s rich aunts came and took her away to Maryland. So I’m going there to get her out.”
“OK, but, like… why?”
“She left me this letter where she admitted she loved me, and I can’t let that go unanswered. If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” I said.
“And you want me to look over the café while you’re gone?” she said.
“That’s right. Feel free to open and close at your own pace. Just know that you’ll be the only employee there for a while.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Haven’t bought a return ticket yet.”
Elise sighed on the other end of the line.
“I better get a raise after all this is over,” she said.
“You will,” I assured her.
I spent the one hour and twenty minutes of the flight thinking about my course of action. According to Tessa, I could get in to the witch colony as long as someone inside wanted me there. I assumed that Tessa’s letter was proof that I would be let in. Even if that was the case, I still needed to find the colony.
She made it seem like it was in a secluded rural area, invisible to outsiders. Blindly searching would take me years, so that was out of the question. Going around asking if anyone has seen some witches might raise questions and put an unnecessary target on my back.
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