There are some hidden curses in this world, disguised as blessings. They may not hurt people, but they can certainly harm the "accursed".
I have always been a good listener. Not only that, I could perfectly feel what others felt, if not worse. Being a twenty-four year-old young woman is also emphasizing this morbid empathy. I must admit that we, women, have a tendency to be dramatic. Alas, I have discovered this in the most acrimonious way possible.
I usually take the bus to get to the office, but today seemed to be a sunny and clear day, so I decided to have a stroll. At least this is what I told myself. In truth, my insomnia had woken me up an hour earlier, and so, I needed to occupy myself.
The construction site next to my house was weirdly calm. Only the birds' movements could be heard on the huge metallic cranes. The cold breeze stirred the stray cats from their stupor, but they did not dare move away from their cozy, sunny spot. The gentle flow of the river nearby was like a soothing lullaby, adding an extra layer of peace to this still, painted scene.
"This tea is heavenly! What is your secret, old man?" A voice exclaimed.
"Heavenly? Huh, and they dare accuse women of over reacting,"I muttered under my breath.
I followed the buzzing of the crowd, drawn by the enticing aroma of fresh mint and lavender, coupled with the warm fragrance of baked bread.
"Get a hold of yourself Mia, you already had breakfast! You are only here to get herbal tea, and that's it!" I scolded myself.
Many people were standing in line on the corner of the sidewalk: some in suits, others in work pants, boots, and gloves. There were even few hurried fathers holding their half-asleep children. Some checked their watches repeatedly, others let out impatient sighs. They must really envy those that are still tucked under their warm covers, lying next to their loved ones.
In the middle, an old man with a hunched back was painlessly sitting on a metallic stool. Judging its pitiful, yet clean state, the chair was probably found in a nearby dumpster and was certainly worsening his unspoken back pain. The man's broken silhouette seemed to hide an eclectic past that he was trying hard to overcome. His trembling arms and frail fingers, gripping the hot teapot, showed that he had long grown numb to human suffering. A subtle scar marked his pale, stern face. He might have been a military veteran.
"If you are not ordering anything, move along, young lady!"snapped a voice, jolting me from my reverie.
It was my turn. The old man's green eyes were so intensely colored they felt like the depth of an endless rain forest. I can tell that, despite his withering body, his soul was teeming with life.
"Take this. This chamomile tea will relieve your pain and lift your curse," he said calmly, stirring the tea with a spoon. "It is free for you, since it is your first try… Next." He added.
Something about what he said triggered me. It was not the 'curse' part that bothered me the most, but his audacity to decide on my behalf. I felt as though I were a helpless bird ensnared by the forest's wide branches. Each time I tried to flap my wings to break free, the branches tightened their grip.
Everyone has their own story. We are protagonists of our own lives, while others are merely supporting characters, shaping our rise or fall. Therefore, I could not help but reflect on people's behaviors and their 'hidden lives'. After all, we only see what others want us to see, but sometimes, if we dig a little deeper, we can unveil the most compelling truths.
When I was younger, I played a game while waiting for my mother at the grocery store. It was a simple game: I tried to guess people's careers based on their looks, demeanor and voices. At times, I could decipher more, things like their marital status and hobbies. I never knew if my speculations were correct or wrong since I kept them to myself. However, the old man's words were not a guess; they were an assertion, one that sent chills creeping down my spine.
This turn of events reawakened the memory of that game, except this time, he was the one making the guesses, not me.
"How could you know what I am going through simply by looking at me?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
"Didn't you do same?"
"Pardon?"
"You were lost in your thoughts earlier, while staring at me, were you not? I bet that your assumptions about me are quite intriguing."
His answer caught me off guard. I would not say that it was humiliating, but certainly unsettling. Nevertheless, I felt the urge to ask him to tell me what he knows about me, but I held back.
"Well, I heard that you were capable of changing your customers' lives by having them drink your exquisite tea. Quite the reputation you have,"I said, forcing a smile.
"A rumor is often an overstatement of truth…" he chuckled softly, "But a pure soul such as yours came to check it out personally? You are quite a gem, young lady!
Looking around, I realized only men stood in the queue, construction workers, fathers and young male students. I did not notice the weird stares earlier but their weight became awfully suffocating now, their mumbling disturbingly clear.
"What the hell! Why are they staring at me like that?"
My feet dragged me involuntarily out of this pitfall. Even though I had taken several steps away, I could still sense their preying eyes and noisy slurring, filling my head with thousands of unspoken thoughts.
"Lift my curse? Whatever did he mean by that! Do I seem that cursed to him?"
Did he mean my past mistakes or my futures ones? How dare he assume that mere tea can offer me solace?
Rumors were just that, rumors. Yet for a moment, I found myself blankly staring at the half-empty cup. Exhausted from overthinking, I sank onto a nearby wooden bench. My throat ran dry with the tension weighing on me, making the tea all the more appealing. With little expectation, I drank it in one swift gulp.
As the warm liquid slid down, I sensed people around me slowly dissolving. I could feel the air's movement, but could barely distinguish the person's features. I could hardly detect their presence; it was as if they were actors fading from the stage, diminishing into the backdrop. They blended to the overall still scenery.
My burdened heart felt lighter and my tangled thoughts clearer. I felt my knotted heart gradually getting undone. I was finally allowed to breathe.
I felt…free.
Truly free.
The world, that I once perceived as a web of chaos and confusion, seemed simpler and my mind was no longer an impregnable fortress of worries.
Maybe the old man was not so far off after all. It has been an eternity since I felt this pleasant. Was I truly cursed? What was it about? It did not really matter now.
Perhaps I would thank him tomorrow morning and learn more. Maybe I would not find him, but for now, I will savor the feeling of being reborn. I am ready to live my new life to the fullest, using this new opportunity to start over. Hopefully, this is more than just a fleeting moment of peace.