The Deal

The Broken Glass

Despite the eventual consequences, those were the best months of my life.

Antonio just kept visiting and he became like a second father to me. While my dad worked, Antonio took mum and I to the beach, the amusement park, and every hidden gem around our small city. My mum laughed at his every joke, found any excuse to touch him, and constantly brought him up in conversation.

I don't know why I was so shocked to come home from school and find them kissing in our garden one Spring afternoon.

Unfortunately, I had a high sense of morality at the ripe age of 11 and it was greatly misplaced. Spurred on by this sense of justice and great agony at their treachery, I lashed out. I let the inner demons snuff out my light and darken my soul. I wanted to hurt my mother for her betrayal, but I was too young and naïve to comprehend the consequences of my actions.

I didn't dare tell my father, in fear of what it would mean for our family, but I did reveal this secret to the other spouse involved. I had only met Maria once at a birthday party of my dad's and remembered her as a severe, but beautiful woman.

I had faith that she would put this affair to a stop.

Hurt and incensed, I sent a letter to Antonio's wife, detailing his infidelity. It didn't take long after the letter was sent for their little tryst to come to a grinding halt, for Antonio to vanish from our lives.

Maria was pregnant.

Antonio suddenly seized his visits and a few weeks later, we got an announcement in the mail for their baby registry. I'm sure that Maria sent it behind Antonio's back as a message to my mother.

She received it loud and clear.

My mother's laughter was replaced with wails of grief, she no longer sang to herself, her aura was murky once again. Her soul had shrunken into itself. I hadn't realized the depth of her love for him until it was too late. My father was completely oblivious to this change and she became so withdrawn and lifeless that my guilt at what I had done grew too much to bear.

I had saved their marriage, our family, but at what cost?

I confessed my great sin to my mother, my own betrayal. The look on her face... it still haunts my dreams. Crushing anguish, untamable rage, and a hurt so deep I had to look away.

She had lost the love of her life and her own daughter had been the orchestrator in that loss.

It was two weeks after that confession that she killed herself.

Antonio didn't come to the funeral.

There is a curse on the women in my family that strikes down any and all love.

I know that I am doomed to the same fate that has befallen my ancestors, that its inescapable. This streak of hopeless love will continue to live on through me. My newfound love for Harry is doomed. I am not destined for Happily Ever After, no woman in my family has ever attained such fantasy.

Eva's great sin, Nan's bad luck, my mother's deep sorrow marked me at birth.

The universe doesn't default on its promises.

As if reminding me of this fate, summoned by the cruel humor of the universe, the tall and tanned figure of Antonio waltzes into my shop early Monday morning. I'm in the middle of sweeping when I hear the bell above the door jingle and am immediately darkened by his shadow.

Though it's been months since he dared set foot in this shop, I would recognize that deep blue aura anywhere. It's a rare shade that reflects his wild spirit and intuitive nature. It's wispy tendrils reach reaches me before he does and I freeze, straightening up, my back towards the door.

He shuts it quietly, his footsteps hesitant on the hardwood.

I thank the spirits my Nan is off doing a tarot reading a town over because I don't want her to see what is about to happen. I don't want her to know the truth about her daughter's death and my role in it.