Day 86 Writing Short Stories

Feeling

The rainy afternoon was stretching long. The droplets were beating down the cottage window hard as I watched out of the window. I was longing for something. I wasn’t sure what. It was a new feeling I found unsettling.

The mail carrier hurried from house to house in the small village. I followed his path and the cap that shielded him from the worst rain.

I wasn’t used to having feelings—not at least new ones, not on the eve of Halloween, and not towards the mail carrier, as the other ladies in the village did. I was a witch after all, and feelings were for those who sought my help.

Yet, there it was: pining and a sigh. A long sigh, I might add.

Chase jumped next to me on the windowsill, butting his head against mine and letting out a low meow. It was his feeding time, and here I was, sighing and moaning after something I thought I had left behind when I took on the responsibilities of my powers.

I petted Chase, and the black cat pushed its back against my hand.

“I thought you were meant to eat mice and rats, and not chase after canned tuna.”

Chase meowed.

“I know, I know. It’s my darn own fault. Let’s go and leave the poor mailman alone.”

I got up from the windowsill and dragged the flower pot back to my spot from where I had pushed it aside.

The kitchen was the heart of the house. I was that kind of witch—the one with the potions and the bakes that transformed lives and minds. But not the cat’s; it still preferred the store-bought food over mine.

Chase helped me serve his lunch, and I settled to watch him eat over the counter as I waited for mine to heat in the oven. I made a rustic oven-baked omelet with fresh herbs and vegetables. As a side, I had my seeded bread with walnuts, cranberries, and butter. The tea was already stewing away next to me as I bided my time.

Then it happened without warning and without the usual premonitions; there was a knock on the back door.

“Miss Halliwell?” the voice said.

My heart skipped a beat to hear the mail carrier’s voice.

“Miss Halliwell?” he repeated.

I rushed up from my stool and opened the back door to the kitchen.

“Good, you are home,” the mail carrier gushed out. “I would have hated to leave your package in the rain.” He was a handsome man. All the village women and some men pined after him. He had a striking pair of blue eyes, and he looked like those Vikings from the other continent who had once been great enemies of the island.

He flashed an unsure smile as I had said nothing.

I stuttered, and nothing comprehensible came out, which was so unlike me.

Chase pushed against my leg and let out a sad meow.

The mail carrier leaned in to scratch Chase as he had attempted before, but this time the darn cat let him. Usually he hissed at the man, and there had been an occasional attempt to bite.

The mail carrier looked up at me with curious eyes.

Good God, those blue eyes of his made my heart skip a beat.

“He is being odd today,” I explained.

“Good odd.” He smiled and got up.

“One could say that if they didn’t know the darn cat’s heart.”

“Devil, then?”

“The worst kind.”

He gave another one of his smiles, and I was sure my knees would give out. I cursed my mind and the upcoming Halloween that clearly had awakened something in me that shouldn’t be there.

“The package,” I retorted after yet another awkward pause.

“Yes.” He blushed and looked away.

I was pretty sure he did. I bit my lip and glanced down at myself. I was presentable, which came as a surprise, as there were days when I didn’t bother to get out of my pajamas. I would smell my breath if I could. I knew I was a somewhat good-looking woman, but a blush… that was a new one, especially from a man like him who must have had a share of partners.

He handed me my package. It was the vials I had ordered online.

“Here you go,” he said.

“Thank you…” I searched for his name.

“Leif,” he said.

“Thank you, Leif,” I repeated.

“It was my pleasure, Miss Halliwell,” Leif said.

“Call me Bea,” I said, and wanted to kill myself.

“Bea,” he said and smiled.

I watched him leave and wanted to bury my head in the sand.

—

What I got today was a contemporary romance about a voyage and return, written in the first person. There was no voyage or return, but I managed to write romance, which I’m proud of. Not that I mind. I am a sucker for witchy romance movies. They are my weak spot. They are especially fun at this time of year.

Now I will head to take a nap with my cat. I didn’t sleep well last night.

Thank you for reading! Have a lovely day and see you tomorrow ❤