Little Maxine had always known that her mother possessed a mysterious power.
It was a gift, or perhaps a curse, handed down through their family for generations. But her mother, a wise and cautious woman, had always warned her against meddling with it.
Maxine was told that some secrets were better left untouched, that tampering with the delicate balance of the universe could have dire consequences.
One evening, as little Maxine watched her mother struggle with a persistent illness that seemed to have no cure, her resolve crumbled.
Her mother was pregnant, she didn't need to go through a deadly sickness again. It was sad and unbearable.
Maxine couldn't bear to see her mother suffer any longer.
Her mother's pale face and labored breathing tore at Maxine's heart. She believed that her healing power, dormant and untested, might hold the key to her mother's recovery.
Despite her mother's stern warnings, Maxine decided to try.
